Attempts by the United States to Acquire Greenland
📜 1. 1867–1868 — Seward’s Post‑Alaska Push
• After purchasing Alaska in 1867, Secretary of State William H. Seward pushed for acquiring Greenland (and Iceland) as the next expansion move.
📜 2. 1910 — Renewed Internal Discussions
• The U.S. federal government again discussed purchasing Greenland in 1910.
📜 3. 1916 — Danish Sovereignty Recognized
• Not an attempt to buy, but important context: in 1916, during the purchase of the Danish West Indies, the U.S. formally recognized Denmark’s sovereignty over all of Greenland, effectively pausing acquisition ambitions.
📜 4. 1946 — Secret Post‑WWII Offer
• In 1946, the U.S. made a secret formal offer to buy Greenland from Denmark. Denmark rejected it.
📜 5. 1955 — Internal U.S. Government Discussions
• In 1955, internal U.S. discussions again raised the idea of purchasing Greenland, tied to Cold War strategic interests.
📜 6. 2019 — Public Proposal by President Trump
• In 2019, President Donald Trump publicly expressed interest in buying Greenland, sparking global headlines and a firm rejection from Denmark and Greenland’s government.
📜 7. 2025 — Renewed Discussion After Trump’s Reelection
• In 2025, following Trump’s reelection, public discussion resurfaced about acquiring Greenland as part of an “American expansionism” policy direction.