TOI correspondent from Washington: Make America Great Again isn't just a political or economic slogan. Contours of a "Greater America," a geographical and cartographic entity began to take shape on Monday, at least in the public sphere, after US President-elect Donald Trump in all seriousness urged Canada to merge with the United States and renewed the idea of buying Greenland from Denmark.
As if to demonstrate he is not joking or trolling, Trump also revealed that his son Don Jr will be traveling to Greenland on Tuesday. "I am hearing that the people of Greenland are “MAGA.” My son, Don Jr, and various representatives, will be traveling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights. Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation. We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside World," he posted on his social media platform.
In a separate post, he also invited Canada to merge with the United States, saying if it did so, "there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them."
"Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned," Trump wrote hours after Trudeau, whom he has often taunted, resigned.
"Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!" Trump declared, while also invoking MAGA in the case of Greenland in a message that read "I am hearing that the people of Greenland are “MAGA”... MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!"
A geographical entity that adds Canada and Greenland to the United States would create a Northern Hemispheric nation of nearly 22 million square kilometers larger than Russia, which it would face across the Arctic north pole. Russia is currently the world's largest country of approximately 17 million sq km.
Trump's MAGA acolytes talked up the idea, including posting videos of a Greenlander disgruntled with the territory's current affiliation with Denmark and wanting Washington to buy out Greenland. “The people of Greenland should decide their future and I think they want to be part of America!” Trump surrogate Elon Musk said on X, formerly Twitter.
But leaders in both Greenland and Canada scoffed at the proposal. Greenland is “not for sale and will never be for sale,” Prime Minister Múte Egede, the territory's prime minister said, despite his stand of pressing for independence from Denmark. Aaja Chemnitz, another Greenlandic politician, expressed disbelief that there are people who “believe that happiness will be achieved if we become American citizens.”
Canadians too have pushed back at the idea. Even Pierre Poilievre, leader of Canada’s Conservative party more aligned with Trump Republicans, said last week that his message to incoming President Trump is that "first and foremost Canada will never be the 51st state of the U.S."
While Trump's stab at folding Canada into the United States is a relatively new idea, his bid to buy Greenland first surfaced during his first term when he is said to have commissioned a feasibility study. According to accounts in the book “The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021,” members of his team, including then National Security Adviser John Bolton and his aide Fiona Hill, engaged in secret talks with Denmark and produced an options memo that included ideas like an enhanced security arrangement but not outright purchase or leasing that Trump was keen on.
Rajghatta is author of Kamala Harris: Phenomenal Woman