Donald Trump Jr. visits Greenland as his father says deal for US to buy it 'must happen'

Donald Trump, Jr., son of President-elect Donald Trump, arrived in Greenland on Tuesday after emphasizing that the trip is just a personal one, indicating he is not meeting with government officials.

His trip comes as his father continues to float the possibility of the U.S. purchasing and taking over Greenland, an autonomous territory administered by Denmark. Trump had also suggested the possibility during his first administration.

About the same time as his eldest son landed, the president-elect, celebrating his son and his advisers' trip to Greenland, floated a "deal" that he claims "must happen," while not elaborating on what deal that is.

"Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland. The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen," Trump wrote in a social media post Tuesday morning. "MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!"

Shortly afterward, Trump called into his son's and his advisers' gathering with local supporters in Greenland, again suggesting that the United States must secure Greenland.

"It's a very special place. It needs security for itself, but it also needs security very much for the world," Donald Trump is heard saying in a social media video that captured the moment.

"The location really -- you see the people and the ships sailing around, and they're not the right ships, and they're not the ships you want to know about," the former president continued. "So we need security, and our country needs it, and all the world needs it… strategically."

"We're going to treat you well. You know that. Just take care of yourselves," Donald Trump said, concluding the call.

Then, shortly after that, at a Mar-a-Lago news conference, Trump declined to rule out using military force to acquire Greenland.

He also raised the possibility of imposing tariffs "at a very high level" on Denmark to acquire Greenland, claiming Denmark might not have any "legal right" to Greenland.

"Well, we need Greenland for national security purposes ...You have approximately 45,000 people there. People really don't even know if Denmark has any legal right to it. But if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security. That's for the free world. I'm talking about protecting the free world," Trump said.

"But nobody knows if they even have any right, title or interest, the people are going to probably vote for independence or to come into the United States. But if they did, if they did do that, then I would tariff Denmark at a very high level," Trump continued.

Danish officials have continued to emphasize that Greenland is not for sale.

Traveling on a Trump plane, Donald Trump Trump Jr. landed in Nuuk, Greenland, Tuesday morning, joined by incoming White House Director of the Presidential Personnel Office Sergio Gor, incoming White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political and Public Affairs James Blair, and conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Trump Jr. posted photos of himself and others in Greenland on X on Tuesday, writing, "Greenland is beautiful!!!"

On Monday, Trump Jr. discussed the visit while emphasizing that it is not a political trip.

"No, I am not buying Greenland," Donald Trump Jr. said on Monday on his podcast show on Rumble. "Funny enough, I'm actually going on a very long personal day trip to Greenland tomorrow [Tuesday]."

"So, I'm going as a tourist. But apparently someone leaked that, so it made all sorts of news, so I figured I'd address it here. No meetings with the government officials, none of that. But I do love Greenland," Trump Jr. said.

A source familiar with the matter told ABC News that Donald Trump Jr. is visiting Greenland just for the day to shoot videos for a podcast and reiterated he's not scheduled to meet with any government officials or political figures.

President-elect Trump, on Monday, mentioned his son's visit in a post on his social media platform, and wrote, "Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation."

The president-elect had reintroduced his proposal to take over Greenland in December during his announcement of Ken Howery as United States Ambassador to Denmark.

"For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity. Ken will do a wonderful job in representing the interests of the United States," Trump wrote in the announcement.

On Christmas, Trump claimed in a social media post that Greenland needs the United States to be there for "national security purposes," before adding, "and we will!"

During his first administration, Trump tried to buy the country; however, the United States ended up giving the island $12 million for economic development instead.

Officials from Greenland and Denmark have pushed back both explicitly and implicitly against Trump's stated desire to purchase the territory.

In December, Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede wrote in a statement, "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale."

Separately, The Independent reported on Tuesday that the king of Denmark has adjusted the Danish coat of arms to show symbols representing Greenland and the Faroe Islands, the two autonomous territories administered by Denmark.