Trump would not rule out military force to take Greenland and the Panama Canal
Reporting and findings
- documented
On January 7, 2025, Trump declined to rule out using military force to obtain Greenland and the Panama Canal.
- Associated Press: Trump refuses to rule out use of military force to take control of Greenland and the Panama CanalJanuary 7, 2025 press conference report
Summary and current status
Asked whether he would rule out military or economic coercion to obtain Greenland and the Panama Canal, Trump said he would not. The statement threatened possible force against two territories; it was not a use of force.
Documented threat statement; not classified here as an executed use of force.
People and organizations
- Panama Canalasset targeted by the statement
- Donald J. Trumpspeaker threatening possible force
- Greenlandterritory targeted by the statement
Relationships in this file
- Donald J. Trumpdeclined to rule out military force to obtainGreenland
- Donald J. Trumpdeclined to rule out military force to obtainPanama Canal
Figures
Threat-of-force statements1 statement Calculation details
- Basis
- Observed
- Population
- Trump's January 7, 2025 answer addressing Greenland and the Panama Canal
- Period
- 2025-01-07 to 2025-01-07
- Method
- One public answer counted once even though it named two targets.
- Uncertainty
- Does not count repetitions before or after the cited exchange.
States or territories targeted in one force statement2 targets Calculation details
- Basis
- Observed
- Population
- Greenland and the Panama Canal as named in Trump's January 7, 2025 answer
- Period
- 2025-01-07 to 2025-01-07
- Method
- Count of distinct states, territories, or territorial assets for which Trump declined to rule out military force in the same public exchange.
- Uncertainty
- Counts targets, not separate operations or repeated statements.