Trump Administration Seeks $6 Billion to Acquire Greenland With Per-Resident Payments

By Michael Katz | Thursday, January 8, 2026 10:44 PM EST

The Trump administration is reportedly considering sending lump-sum payments of up to $100,000 per resident to Greenland’s approximately 57,000 inhabitants as part of an effort to purchase the semiautonomous territory from Denmark.

Reports indicate that Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently told lawmakers he had discussed a plan to acquire Greenland from Denmark. U.S. officials have considered payment figures ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person, with a potential total cost of nearly $6 billion if payments reach $100,000 each.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated at Wednesday’s briefing that President Donald Trump and his national security team are actively considering Greenland acquisition. She emphasized the proposal is not new, having been championed by U.S. presidents for decades to enhance national security in the Arctic region.

The administration has maintained that military intervention remains an option but prefers diplomatic means such as purchase or treaty negotiations.

Senator Ron Wyden, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, criticized the proposal Thursday, calling it a waste of taxpayer money and accusing the administration of prioritizing foreign spending over domestic needs. He stated: “In America, there are 11 million children living in poverty… and it’s an insult to every last one of them that Donald Trump would consider wasting our taxpayer dollars cutting checks to bribe the residents of Greenland.”

Denmark’s ambassador to the United States, Jesper Møller Sørensen, and Greenland’s chief representative to the U.S., Jacob Isbosethsen, met with White House National Security Council officials Thursday to discuss President Trump’s renewed push for territorial acquisition. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet Danish officials next week.

In a recent interview, President Donald Trump stated that U.S. ownership of Greenland would provide greater control than treaties granting military access, saying: “Ownership gives you things and elements that you can’t get from just signing a document.”