On February 10th of 2025, a bill was introduced to the House of Representatives that would allow the President to negotiate for Greenland and rename the territory “Red, White, and Blueland.”
Many may laugh at the “Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025,” but most recently Trump has reiterated his intentions with Greenland by appointing the governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, as special envoy to Greenland in December of 2025.
There are mixed opinions on the value of Greenland for the US. Some argue that the territory is useless to own as the US is already allowed to station military troops there since World War 2. Others believe its geographic significance makes it an invaluable asset in the Arctic and feel as though owning it would make big strides in making the US even more of a world power.
Several West Morris Central students followed Trump’s recent rhetoric and special envoy appointment for Greenland, including seniors Kelly Morgan and Luke Gillen. While neither student claimed to be an expert in the topic, they each shared their fair share of concerns and appeals for the acquisition.
Morgan understands the appeal of the territory for some, however felt that it was important to maintain positive diplomatic relations with Denmark and the other NATO countries and that importance outweighs any benefit. “I think it’s definitely a situation where you do weigh the consequences of your actions, we should definitely not make any bad blood with the number of world powers” Morgan stated.
Luke Gillen supports the acquisition with its potential to help in security against Russia or China. Yet, he shares a common sentiment as he is worried at the possibility of starting bad relations with close trade partners. “They would put sanctions against our economy, and in that scenario, we would be kind of losing in a sense” Gillen stated.
The story continues to unfold with military movement from both Washington and Europe, and with Trump’s more recent rhetoric, there is no indication that the event will deescalate anytime soon.
