Trump says he still wants to buy Greenland, suggests Canada could become a U.S. state

President Trump discussed several of his top foreign policy priorities in public comments over the weekend, including his desire to purchase Greenland and the possibility of turning Canada into a U.S. state.

The president made the comments in a roughly 20-minute question-and-answer session with reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Miami Saturday evening.

Trump on Greenland: “I think we’re going to have it”

Trump has said as far back as 2019 that he wants the U.S. to buy Greenland, a massive Arctic island that is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

Though Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen replied at the time that Greenland is “not for sale,” Trump indicated on Saturday that he’s still keen to make Greenland a part of the United States.

“I think Greenland will be worked out with us. I think we’re going to have it. And I think the people want to be with us,” Trump said.

Greenland contains critical natural resources such as rare earth minerals and uranium. Trump says the U.S. could provide security to the island and beyond.

“I don’t know really what claim Denmark has to it. But it would be a very unfriendly act if they didn’t allow that to happen because it’s for protection of the free world. It’s not for us, it’s for the free world,” Trump said.

The Financial Times reported on Friday that Trump reiterated his interest in acquiring Greenland during a phone call with Frederiksen earlier this month.

Canada would benefit from becoming a U.S. state, Trump says

Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose tariffs on Canada in his second term, saying on Saturday that the northern neighbor of the U.S. has been “treating us very unfairly on trade.”

“I love Canada. I have so many friends up in Canada. And they like us. They like me. But Canada has been taking advantage of the United States for years, and we’re not going to let that happen,” he added.

Trump suggested that Canada is more reliant on trade with the U.S. than the other way around, and that without the U.S. as its trading partner, Canada would struggle.

“So I don’t want to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on supporting a country unless that country is a state,” the president said. “And if it is a state, the people of Canada would pay a much lower tax. Their taxes would be cut in half. They would have no military problems. They’d be much more secure in every way. And I think it’s a great thing for Canada.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this month that his country becoming the 51st U.S. state is “not going to happen.”

Trudeau, who announced at the beginning of this year that he would resign as prime minister, has also warned that any tariffs imposed on Canada would mean higher prices for American consumers. Trump said Saturday that U.S. tariffs on Canada would take effect on February 1.

Trump urges Jordan, Egypt to accept more Palestinian refugees

Trump has said that he would like Jordan, Egypt and other Arab countries to accept more Palestinian refugees fleeing Gaza amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas — either temporarily or for the long term. A ceasefire that began last week remains in effect.

Trump complimented King Abdullah of Jordan — with whom Trump spoke over the weekend — for doing a “wonderful job” taking in and housing refugees from the conflict.

Trump said he asked the king to accept more refugees, and that he would make a similar request of Egyptian president Abdul Fatah al-Sisi during a call scheduled for Sunday.

“You’re talking about probably a million and a half people. And we just clean out that whole thing. Over the centuries it’s had many, many conflicts, that site. And I don’t know, something has to happen,” Trump said.

“It’s literally a demolition site right now. Almost everything is demolished and people are dying there. So I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing at a different location where they can maybe live in peace for a change. It could be temporary. It could be long-term,” he added.

Trump also said the U.S. has released 2,000-pound bombs bought by Israel that the Biden administration had previously blocked from being transferred to the country.

 

Israelis hold a mass funeral for Shiri Bibas and her two sons killed in Gaza

Crowds gathered in Israel for the funeral procession of the Bibas family, a mother and two young sons killed while being held hostage in Gaza. The story of their killing has enraged Israelis, and Israeli government representatives were not invited to the funeral.

For Women’s History Month, NPR wants to know who has made an impact in your life

Is there a woman who has impacted your life in a profound way? NPR wants to hear your story.

Lunar Trailblazer sets out to find water on the moon

The Lunar Trailblazer orbiter's launch window opens Feb 26. It's catching a ride with Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission which is landing on the moon near the south pole. Both have instruments for looking for water.

Tablets for tots? Survey says kids watch videos on their own devices by age 2

A.I. is the other big change in the media landscape for kids and parents, the report from Common Sense Media finds.

What if I’m missing a form? Attorneys answer tax questions from NPR’s audience

We asked our listeners to send us their most befuddling questions about the 2025 tax season. What if you can't pay your tax bill? How good is online tax software? Two tax attorneys weigh in.

How ‘Anora’ breakout star Yura Borisov crafted a sensitive ‘brute’

Borisov, who plays the hired henchman Igor in Anora, is the first Russian actor to be nominated for an Oscar in decades. The film has a total of six nominations, including for best picture.

More Front Page Coverage