Trump’s Controversial Remarks on Military Involvement and Territorial Ambitions

President-elect Donald Trump stirred the media pot on Tuesday by not ruling out the use of the U.S. military to seize territories like Greenland and the Panama Canal, concepts he has mentioned since his election win.

During a press gathering at Mar-a-Lago, Trump remarked, “It might be that you’ll have to do something,” when asked about his stance against military intervention. He added, “I can’t assure you—you’re talking about Panama and Greenland—no, I can’t assure you on either of those two. But I can say this: We need them for economic security.”

He further threatened Denmark with imposing high tariffs if it refuses to surrender Greenland to the U.S., prompting discussions about Denmark’s legal ownership of the island. “People really don’t even know if Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security,” Trump stated. Officials from both Denmark and Greenland have firmly reiterated that the island is not for sale, while Panama’s president has also made it clear that the Panama Canal is not open for negotiation. Trump has expressed a desire to regain control of the canal, which was handed over to Panama in 1999 under a treaty brokered by former President Jimmy Carter. Trump criticized this agreement, claiming that Panama has overcharged the U.S. for canal access and that their control over this vital waterway harms American interests.

While he hasn’t divulged extensive details about his territorial ambitions, Trump’s comments on Tuesday provided a clearer insight into his vision for reshaping U.S. global influence. He even jested that Canada should think about becoming the 51st state but emphasized that any influence on Canada would come through economic channels rather than military means. “That would really be something,” Trump commented. “You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like. And it would also be much better for national security.”

Additionally, Trump shared his aspiration to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America—“a beautiful name,” as he described it—and announced plans to impose significant tariffs on both Mexico and Canada.

This press conference, held a day after Congress certified his election win, marked Trump’s second public appearance since his victory on November 5. He began by unveiling a multi-billion dollar initiative to establish data centers nationwide, funded by investors from Dubai, calling it a “great thing” for advancements in technology and artificial intelligence in America. With his second inauguration just weeks away, Trump urgently called for Hamas to release hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, warning that “all hell will break out” if the approximately 100 hostages aren’t freed before January 20. His special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, indicated they believe a resolution regarding the hostages’ release is forthcoming.

However, the tone shifted as Trump turned his attention to his political opponents, especially President Joe Biden, discussing the legal challenges stemming from various investigations.

Trump’s remarks illustrated a President-elect intent on navigating what he sees as obstacles to his agenda as he prepares to take office. “We are inheriting a difficult situation from the outgoing administration, and they’re trying everything they can to make it more difficult,” he lamented, critiquing Biden’s last-minute actions, including an executive order that halted oil and gas drilling across 625 million acres of U.S. coastal waters. “I’m going to put it back on day one,” he vowed.

These statements came just ahead of Trump’s sentencing in a New York hush-money trial on Friday, after being convicted on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records in May. He is also working to block the release of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report concerning other criminal investigations. During the press event, federal judge Aileen Cannon temporarily halted the release of Smith’s report regarding Trump’s classified documents case.

Trump took aim at Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the New York case, branding him as “crooked.” (Merchan has suggested that Trump is unlikely to face jail time during the sentencing.) Trump also criticized Smith, labeling him a “deranged individual,” particularly after Smith dismissed his two federal cases once Trump secured the election victory.

Moreover, Trump confirmed that he is considering pardons for several individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, including some charged with violent offenses. “People that were doing some bad things weren’t prosecuted, and people that didn’t even walk into the building are in jail right now. So, we’ll be looking at the whole thing. But I’ll be making major pardons, yes,” Trump stated. This commitment has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it could potentially incite extremist actions and undermine the legal system.