Beyond the Soundbites and Memes: Canada and Greenland

On Getting a Serious Explanation from Trump

It is difficult to evaluate Trump’s most recent claims about our northern neighbors. Even his supporters are having trouble to explain exactly what he means, and are being purposely vague in their endorsements. Once again, we’re left head scratching and scrambling to figure out what the incoming President means exactly.

One reason that media has had difficulty in covering the story are the incoming administration threats to have the FCC revoke the licenses of “fake news” - some interpret this to refer to news outlets generating negative coverage that Trump deems unfair. The second reason is the same old problem that journalists had during Trump’s first term, which is how do you seriously cover a man who presents his ideas so unseriously? It seems to be a continuing problem as two articles from large outlets have come out describing how affected countries are stating that ideas such as buying Greenland or annexing Canada are no longer funny.

I believe a third way is possible, and am convinced of this from a response by President Claudia Sheinbaum to the proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico. In one of her daily press conferences, Sheinbaum pointed out the Gulf of Mexico is both an internationally recognized name and has been used as a maritime navigational reference for hundreds of years. While most articles have focused on her jokingly proposing renaming parts of the United States to Mexican America; I find her serious reminder about how the gulf is recognized and the obstacles to changing that a great point.

I want to clarify, I am not suggesting that the media or his supporters should be working to justify purchasing Greenland and annexing Canada. Nor should they be outlining various plans that accomplish similar outcomes such as establishing a Compact of Free Association with a hypothetically independent Greenland in the near future. There is always the chance that many of these claims are just a distraction, but I am far too cynical to hope that the media and global audience could hope to ignore these bombastic statements.

Instead of protesting that Trump “cannot” do these outlandish tasks, it is better to identify and focus on the obstacles to his simply stated goals just like Sheinbaum did. Can Trump domestically direct the United States to refer to a body of water as the Gulf of America? Plausibly. Will he be able to convince a majority of the international body to comply? It is probably not worth his time, considering the larger projects he has planned which will require hard work to negotiate.

Which brings me back to Canada. Instead of focusing on anger and outrage at the potential return of American Imperialism, critics should point out the headache involved in incorporating all ten provinces and three territories of Canada into the governance of the United States. Actually acquiring this territory would be incredibly costly and complicated to say the least. When Trump is told he simply cannot do something because it is wrong or that he doesn’t have the authority to do something, he seems to dig his heels in and ramp up his trolling. This is an exhausting cycle we lived through enough from 2016-2020. Journalists would benefit from seriously approaching with questions from a practical perspective. More in depth answers give U.S. citizens - who will be footing the bill and living with the consequences - the context they desperately need: why is Trump proposing these ideas in the first place?

President Trump has often demonstrated a weak understanding of history. He reads the headlines. He is not interested in the mundane bureaucratic work to accomplish his whims. By approaching him with questions about the underlying framework of tasks that must be accomplished, even his supporters will have a better idea of how to enact his intent. This reminds me of a common military leadership differentiation. Mission is what absolutely has to happen, and there are explicit tasks that align with accomplishing this goal. However understanding intent allows subordinates to execute implied tasks, and even innovate tasks, on the way from point A to point B.

To demonstrate the confusion regarding Trump’s aspirations for Canada, the other day on The Morning Show out of Toronto on Global, Kevin O’Leary - who has allegedly been on calls with the incoming President - was interviewed about Trump’s comments about annexing Canada.

Kevin insisted that it was more an idea modelled after the European Union. If true, holy shirtballs, that sounds suspiciously progressive and may not be supported uniformly by the Republican majority in the house or senate. He went on to describe a scenario of unifying behind a single currency and adopting an agreement similar to the Schengen area used in the EU, as well as reducing economic restrictions between provinces and states.

From Trump’s most recent jeers on Truth Social, and referring to Canada as becoming the 51st state, Mr. O’Leary’s description may not be accurate. We need further explanation from Trump himself, and should not be speculating from unverified closed door informal conversations, memes, and short punchy soundbites.

When it comes to the purchase of Greenland, CNN has already addressed the question quite succinctly:

“US and Danish officials say they don’t understand the incoming president’s obsession with acquiring Greenland, which Trump has called “an absolute necessity,” particularly because the US already has a decades-old defense agreement with the territory that has allowed the US to build up a significant military presence — including troops and radar systems — on the world’s largest island.” - CNN, 8 Jan 2025

Enticing Trump to elaborate beyond ambiguous press release quotes is both a way for American citizens and their elected representatives to decide if they support the President’s goals, and a way for countries affected by these wild claims to come to the diplomatic table with a plan to redirect Trump’s enthusiasm and determination into more productive projects.

If Trump is merely interested in expanding American territory and more facetime in the history books for questionably admirable accomplishments, perhaps he should set out to make Puerto Rico the 51st State given they are already a U.S. territory. Maybe that will help them forgive Trump for his comedian choice at Madison Square Garden last year.