Donald Trump Jr lands in Greenland after father said US should own territory

The eldest son of US President-elect Donald Trump arrived in Greenland for a private visit that has heightened speculation that the incoming US administration could seek to take control of the Danish territory.

The Danish state broadcaster reported that Donald Trump Jr’s plane landed in Nuuk, the capital of the vast and icy territory that has some 57,000 residents.

In a statement, Greenland’s government said Mr Trump Jr’s visit would take place “as a private individual” and not as an official visit and that Greenlandic representatives would not meet with him.

There have been no requests from his delegation for official meetings with government representatives.

The government of Greenland has also not requested meeting with the delegation, he said.

The visit nonetheless has strong political overtones.

It comes after President-elect Donald Trump recently voiced a desire — which he also expressed in during his first presidency — to acquire the vast Artic territory.

Greenland is an autonomous territory that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

But Mr Egede has also said he has no interest in Greenland becoming part of the US, insisting that the island is not for sale.

Denmark’s King Frederik X has been asserting his kingdom’s rights to both Greenland as well as the Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago located between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Last month, the king changed Denmark’s coat of arms to include fields that represent Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

Greenland is represented by an upright sitting silver bear with red tongue.

The royal announcement noted that since 1194, the royal coat of arms “visually symbolized the legitimacy and sovereignty of the state and the monarch”.

Mr Trump Jr is in Greenland for a day trip to shoot video content for podcasting, according to a person familiar with the plans who was not authorised to speak publicly.

The president-elect posted on his social media site on Monday night, referring to his “Make America Great Again” movement: “I am hearing that the people of Greenland are ‘MAGA.’ My son, Don Jr, and various representatives, will be traveling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights.

“Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation,” Mr Trump wrote.

“We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”

Mr Trump has had designs on Greenland before.

Mr Trump’s eldest son has become a prominent player in his father’s political movement and has served on his presidential transition team, helping to select the people who will staff the incoming White House.

During his first term, Mr Trump mused about purchasing Greenland, which gained home rule from Denmark in 1979.

He even cancelled a scheduled trip to Denmark in August 2019 after its prime minister dismissed the idea.

The world’s largest island, Greenland sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans and is 80% covered by an ice sheet and is home to a large US military base.