Maddowblog-Trump says he wants Greenland because it's 'psychologically needed for success'

[LetMyPeopleVote]

The president has had plenty of time to come up with talking points on his Greenland ambitions. His pitch needs work.

Link to tweet

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-says-he-wants-greenland-because-its-psychologically-needed-for-success

That led to a great many questions, including a practical one: Who, exactly, is Donald Trump going to pay? Reuters shed some light on one possible answer (as part of a report that has not been independently verified by MS NOW):

U.S. officials have discussed sending lump sum payments to Greenlanders as part of a bid to convince them to secede from Denmark and potentially join the United States, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

While the exact dollar figure and logistics of any payment are unclear, U.S. officials, including White House aides, have discussed figures ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person, said two of the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Because nothing says “America First” like writing generous checks to tens of thousands of Danish citizens.

As for why the president has made this such a priority, the Republican spoke to The New York Times this week about his need to acquire the island.

“Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success,” Trump said. “I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can’t do, whether you’re talking about a lease or a treaty. Ownership gives you things and elements that you can’t get from just signing a document.”.....

As for our traditional allies abroad, officials are taking the White House’s threats quite seriously. The Associated Press reported that “Denmark and Greenland’s envoys to Washington have begun a vigorous effort to urge U.S. lawmakers as well as key Trump administration officials to step back from President Donald Trump’s call for a takeover of the strategic Arctic island.”

Watch this space.

There is no military reason for trump/the USA to take over Greenland. This is all about trump's insecurities/emotional issues

[Irish_Dem]

1. Trump needs it so HE can feel successful and like a big man.

[Goonch]

2. ;-{)..........

[Kid Berwyn]

3. Psychological in a way like when Drumpf gets two scoops.

Everybody else gets one.

[Ilsa]

4. Your military sons and daughters are sacrificed for

Krasnov's psych boost! Glory, Hallelujah!

[Blues Heron]

5. Get this fucking head case away from our government NOW

[LetMyPeopleVote]

6. trump wants Greenland because it would make him feel important

Not everyone believed me when I wrote that Trump wants Greenland becuase it would make him feel important, but that's what he told the NYT:

When asked why he needed to possess the territory, he said: “Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success"
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/u...

— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum.bsky.social) 2026-01-09T05:56:55.020Z

[C_U_L8R]

7. America First. It's a cookbook!

We’re just the appetizer.

[Paladin]

8. Ludicrously insane, even by trump standards.

If trump is crazy enough to instigate something with Greenland, I hope the citizens of Greenland are ready to resist in the strongest possible ways---and that other nations will side with Greenland in the conflict. History is replete with examples of how costly it is to get rid of madmen. Lord help us all.

[belpejic]

9. Why would Greenlanders

Relinquish the social and health benefits of the Danish state in order to become part of the US? Our healthcare system, our educational system, our social security system, our anti-worker policies, our environmental policies, our everything at the moment? It would be lunacy, and giving it up would be worth far more than a one-time lump payment of $100,000.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. Greenland is NOT trump's for the taking