Why Trump Really Wants Greenland

 

Some are suggesting Trump’s recent moves, on Venezuela and Greenland, are an indication he is preparing for a major war.

Granted, they would be strategic in case of a world war. Trump is generally shortening supply lines and consolidating US resources and industries. But this is merely judicious. It is always wise to have a strong defense. And here are calculations that China will make a lunge for Taiwan in 2027.

But if this were about Greenland’s strategic value in case of war, making it US territory now is unnecessary. Denmark is a NATO ally. It would be easy to cut a deal to establish US bases there without any change in sovereignty. Even without this, in the case of war, the US could quickly land and take it over, as the US and Britain did with Iceland when it was Danish territory during the Second World War.

Which leaves the real motive rather simpler: Trump is a showman, and he wants to be remembered as one of the greatest US presidents. He has an ego: he likes seeing his name on things. He wants to be on Mount Rushmore.

As a major territorial acquisition, Greenland would put him up there with Jefferson, Lincoln, and Polk. Venezuela is a major national security triumph, and the oil is strategic. But Trump’s eye may really be on Cuba, now likely to collapse without its Venezuelan support. Then he would have solved a national security problem twelve presidents in a row could not solve, including the much-lauded Kennedy and Reagan. . I can even see him moving to annex Cuba once the current government collapses. The annexation of Cuba has been proposed by other presidents going all he way back to Jefferson. As far back as 1854, the US government declared Cuba “essential to US security.” Imagine if Trump were the one to finally do it? And why not--America once annexed Puerto Rico in the same way.

Consider in this light the Kennedy Centre being unofficially renamed the Trump Kennedy Centre. Consider Trump’s new ballroom appended to the White House—larger than the White House itself. Trumping the famous “Lincoln bedroom” by quite a bit. He also plans a triumphal arch within view of the Lincoln Memorial and in the same Neoclassical style—in effect, a Trump Memorial to rival those of Lincoln, Jefferson, and Washington nearby. Not to mention Napoleon.

One might consider this all rather childish. Trump is an overgrown child. Okay, but so far, it all also looks beneficial to all. Greenlanders would probably be better off, more secure, wealthier, with greater freedoms, under the USA than under Denmark. Venezuelans are certainly better off without Maduro, and Cubans would be exponentially better off as part of the US. The new Trump ballroom will cost taxpayers nothing, and improve the White House. The Trump arch will cost taxpayers nothing, and instantly become a tourist attraction. Adding Trump’s name to the Kennedy Centre costs taxpayers nothing. 

So I, for one, am good with it.