On August 27, news broke that three people linked to the Trump administration were suspected of engaging in covert campaigns to influence politics in Greenland. Donald Trump has expressed an interest in acquiring Greenland since 2019. As president-elect in January 2025, he said he wanted the U.S. to purchase the island. He also said he would not rule out taking Greenland with military force.
Greenland is currently a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. The island has the right to declare independence if it chooses to, but a majority of Greenlanders voted in favor of the current arrangement with Denmark in 2008. Both the Greenlandic and Danish governments participate in NATO as allies of the United States, including hosting a U.S. Space Force base on the island.
In a recent YouGov survey, we found that only about one-quarter of Americans would support purchasing Greenland. Support for taking control by military force is even lower (7%). And only 13% of Americans think it is acceptable to engage in covert operations to influence politics in Greenland.
Few Americans want to buy Greenland
Not many Americans are on board with acquiring Greenland's territory. Americans are about twice as likely to oppose as to support purchasing Greenland (45% vs. 24%).
Democrats overwhelmingly oppose buying Greenland (72% vs. 9% who support it). Independents also are more likely to oppose it than to support it (46% vs. 19%). On the other hand, Republicans are more amenable to the idea: Only 17% of Republicans oppose purchasing Greenland, while 44% support it. Democrats are less likely than Independents and Republicans to say they haven't made up their mind about the idea: 19% of Democrats are not sure whether they would support or oppose purchasing Greenland, compared to 36% of Independents and 38% of Republicans.
Most Americans say covert influence campaigns in Greenland are unacceptable
Even less Americans want the U.S. to engage in covert influence campaigns on Greenland than want to purchase the island. A majority (61%) of Americans say it's unacceptable to try to covertly influence politics in Greenland; only 13% say it is acceptable.
Democrats, Independents, and Republicans are all more likely to say covert influence campaigns in Greenland are unacceptable than to say they are acceptable. Democrats overwhelmingly say so: 82% think such campaigns are unacceptable while only 5% think they are acceptable. A majority (65%) of Independents say it is unacceptable while only 9% say it is acceptable. Republicans are less unified on the issue: While 37% of Republicans say trying to covertly influence Greenlandic politics is unacceptable, 24% say it is acceptable. Republicans also are more likely than Democrats or Independents to say they are not sure whether covert actions on the island are acceptable.
Taking Greenland by force is extremely unpopular
Under its current arrangement with Denmark, Greenland could hypothetically declare independence and decide to legally join the U.S. (with or without financial incentives that could be seen as the U.S. "buying" the island). But Trump has also suggested that, if Greenland and Denmark do not cooperate in his ambitions to acquire Greenland, he may consider taking control of it with military force. Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to this idea.
Nearly three-quarters (72%) of Americans oppose using military force to take control of Greenland. Only 7% would support such a move. Majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans oppose a U.S. military takeover of Greenland.
— Taylor Orth and Carl Bialik contributed to this article
See the results of this poll:
- Would you support or oppose the U.S. purchasing Greenland?
- Would you support or oppose the U.S. using military force to take control of Greenland?
- Do you think it is acceptable or unacceptable for the U.S. government to try to covertly influence politics in Greenland?
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- Would you support or oppose the U.S. seeking ownership of Greenland?
- Only 4% of Americans support U.S. expansion if it requires force
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Methodology: The Daily Questions survey was conducted online on August 28 - 29, 2025, among 6,996 U.S. adults. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, U.S. census region, and political party. The margin of error for the survey is approximately 1.5%.
