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The Trump administration has discussed offering direct payments to Greenlanders as part of efforts to persuade the island to break away from Denmark and potentially join the United States, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters.
U.S. officials, including White House aides, have discussed lump-sum payments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person, according to two of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Greenland has a population of about 57,000.
The idea of directly paying Greenland’s residents has been raised as one possible way for the U.S. to attempt to acquire the island, despite repeated statements from authorities in Copenhagen and Nuuk that Greenland is not for sale.
The proposal is among several options being discussed by the White House, including the potential use of the U.S. military.
Sources said the idea risks being seen as overly transactional toward a population that has long debated its own independence and economic reliance on Denmark.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen rejected the idea of annexation, writing on Facebook: “Enough is enough … No more fantasies about annexation,” after U.S. President Donald Trump again said the U.S. needed to acquire the island.
Leaders in Denmark and across Europe reacted critically to Trump’s remarks, noting that the U.S. and Denmark are NATO allies bound by a mutual defense agreement.
France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain and Denmark issued a joint statement saying only Greenland and Denmark can decide matters concerning their relationship.
Asked about discussions to acquire Greenland, including possible payments, the White House referred Reuters to comments by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said Trump and his national security team are examining what a potential purchase could look like.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he plans to meet his Danish counterpart next week to discuss Greenland.
The Danish Embassy declined to comment, and Greenland’s representative office in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump has long argued that the U.S. needs Greenland for national security reasons, citing its strategic location and mineral resources.
Sources said internal discussions on how to acquire Greenland have been ongoing since before Trump took office, but gained urgency following the U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
One source said aides were considering higher payment amounts, including a possible $100,000 per person, which would total nearly $6 billion.
Details of how such payments would work, or what Greenlanders would be expected to agree to in return, remain unclear.
Another option discussed by Trump’s aides is pursuing a Compact of Free Association (COFA), similar to agreements the U.S. has with Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau.
Under such arrangements, the U.S. typically provides services like defense and mail delivery, while gaining military access and largely duty-free trade.
Greenland would likely need to separate from Denmark for a COFA to proceed. Sources said payments could be used to encourage Greenlanders to support independence or back such an agreement.
While polls show most Greenlanders favor independence, concerns over economic costs have so far prevented a referendum, and surveys indicate most do not want to become part of the United States.
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