Trump Demands Greenland, Forgetting Diplomacy Isn't Monopoly
Donald Trump's casual assertion that anything less than Greenland 'in the hands of' the U.S. is 'unacceptable' didn't just ruffle diplomatic feathers; it laid bare an imperial playbook. (The Hill, 2021) This isn't just Trump's bluster; it’s a direct echo of 19th-century Manifest Destiny, where strategic acquisitions were framed as natural rights. The media frames it as an 'absurd' Trump anecdote,
ignoring how often the U.S. has indeed tried to 'buy' or otherwise control territories, from Alaska to the Philippine Islands, often with devastating consequences for indigenous populations. One might wonder if the U.S. has solved all its complex domestic issues before eyeing another resource-rich, strategically located (and inhabited) landmass. Or perhaps, for some, the concept of national
sovereignty is merely a suggestion for others, particularly when 'American interests' are involved. The only unacceptable part seems to be the audacity of not just taking what one wants.