Fact Check: Trump Claims the U.S. Must Own Greenland to Defend It

Media Bias Fact Check (MBFC) publishes daily vetted fact checks using IFCN-approved sources. Each claim is reviewed for accuracy and context.


Claimant: Donald Trump


Claim: “You need ownership to defend Greenland. You can’t defend it on a lease.”


Rating: BLATANT LIE


Explanation: FactCheck.org reports that the United States already has extensive military access to Greenland under a long-standing defense agreement with Denmark, including control over Thule Air Base (now Pituffik Space Base). Military experts say sovereignty or ownership is not required for effective defense. The claim incorrectly suggests that leasing or treaty-based access is insufficient, which is contradicted by decades of U.S. military operations worldwide.


Source: FactCheck.org


Date: 01/25/2026


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Last Updated on January 25, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check

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