Trump Appoints Special Envoy to Greenland, See Odds on US Purchasing Territory
By Paul Lebowitz in News
Published:
- President Trump has named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as his Special Envoy to Greenland
- The odds are heavily against Trump brokering a deal to purchase part of Greenland before he leaves office
- Could we see Denmark budge on their resistance to negotiate?
President Trump has named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as Special Envoy to Greenland, reigniting his stated objective to acquire the territory.
The President floated the idea of purchasing Greenland during his first term, and has maintained his interest in the plan as he serves his second stint in office. Gov. Landry shares the President’s enthusiasm for the acquisition.
The autonomous territory is the Kingdom of Denmark.
Here are the latest odds for the US to execute a purchase of at least partial Greenland territory, based on the prediction markets available on Kalshi.
Betting Odds for Trump to Purchase Greenland Territory
The current trading volume for Trump buying Greenland is approaching $2,000,000, with users placing money on either side of the outcome. The market requires users to execute trades and place their bets prior to January 20, 2029, when President Trump’s second term ends.
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Traders are Skeptical of an Acquisition
More than three-quarters of the traders on Kalshi do not believe that the U.S. will acquire part of Greenland. Those who bet “Yes” are hedging that the Presiden’t negotiating skills and aggression will eventually get him at least part of what he wants.
For those who wagered on “No,” it’s a simple matter of history as well as the Danes’ reluctance to even discuss the issue. Their hardline response is indicative of their unwillingness to accede to the President’s demands.
Trump Appointing Landry Shows Greenland Remains a Territorial Objective
Gov. Landry will not be leaving his role as Louisiana’s chief executive.
Landry is a longtime Trump supporter who was elected to the statehouse in 2023 and has been in lockstep with the President on immigration and other key issues.
The Danish government responded to this move by summoning U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, Ken Howery.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen dismissed the importance of Landry’s appointment, saying it doesn’t change anything and that the territory will determine its own path. Still, the U.S. maintains a base in the territory. It also reopened a consulate in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, in 2020. The consulate had been closed since 1953.
Greenland has approximately 57,000 residents. A 2018 poll regarding independence in general – posted on social media by President Trump to boost his case – said that more than two-thirds of its citizens wanted independence, but 85% did not want to become part of the United States.
The President’s reasoning for his position is that the territory is crucial to U.S. security. He has not ruled out the idea of using force to acquire it. His appointment of Gov. Landry suggests that he is ratcheting up pressure on Denmark to come to the negotiating table regarding a U.S. purchase of the territory.
While the initial reaction to the President’s desire to acquire Greenland might seem to be a random obsession, the territory does hold strategic importance given its location in the Arctic Circle, valuable resources, and as a crucial location for shipping corridors.
A fundamental point of contention for Denmark is that it was not informed in advance of the President’s move to appoint Gov. Landry. The governor’s hawkish position is in lock-step with President Trump’s views of Greenland, giving Copenhagen pause.
Regardless of the President’s feelings on the subject and naming Landry as the Special Envoy to Greenland, the odds remain low that a purchase of territory will happen. Denmark has shown no interest in a transaction, and given the President’s priorities with the midterm elections rapidly approaching, he does not need any unnecessary conflict jamming up his agenda.
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Paul Lebowitz is a writer living in New York City. He is a novelist, columnist and social commentator and the author of eight published books on baseball โ one novel and seven baseball guide/previews. He covers sports, politics, and pop culture. Paul graduated from Hunter College in New York City wi