Harrop: Attention news media, Greenland is a Trump red herring

Trump has no designs on Greenland, Panama or Canada. He was diverting attention from a bad couple of weeks.

By Froma Harrop / Creators.com

Donald Trump had a rough couple of weeks. Members of his own party sunk his attempt to escape a vote on the debt limit for two years. Some of Trump’s picks for top jobs weren’t received with universal applause. A revolt by Republican senators against his choice of Matt Gaetz as attorney general forced the Florida Republican to withdraw from consideration. Then there was, yuck, the Gaetz report.

If you were Trump confronted with this unwanted evidence of limited political potency, what would you do? You would throw out some dazzling nonsense to distract the public’s attention from your difficulties. You would make outlandish comments on such matters as buying Greenland and taking back the Panama Canal. You’d suggest that Canada become the 51st state.

And what has much of respectable media done with this fusillade of goofy chatter? Unfortunately, they jumped at the bait with unseemly speed and moved their focus to Trump’s muttering about plans to stomp on the sovereignty of friendly countries. They led news reports with serious discussions of the international ramifications.

“The U.S. is unlikely to take control of any of these regions,” the BBC wrote with a straight face, “but these statements could indicate that Trump’s ‘America First’ vision includes flexing the superpower’s muscle beyond its borders for U.S. trade and national security interests.”

We’ve been here before.

In August 2019, then-President Trump told reporters of the “strategically interesting” idea of buying Greenland, which is a territory of Denmark. The Danish prime minister called the proposal “absurd.” Trump then canceled a planned state visit to Denmark, citing such remarks as the reason.

But to show what a ha-ha headbang that attention-grabbing stunt really was, Trump tweeted a photograph of a skyscraper in the middle of an Arctic setting with the Trump logo at the top.

He wrote: “I promise not to do this to Greenland!”

He just dusted off the ridiculous idea again, writing on a social media post that the U.S. “feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” for reasons of national security and global freedom.

Media again snapped at the floating lures.

The Wall Street Journal offered the headline, “Trump Threatens to Take Control of Panama Canal, Greenland.” The New York Times headline was “Trump’s Wish to Control Greenland and Panama Canal: Not a Joke This Time.” The article asserted: “Over the past two days, President-elect Donald J. Trump has made clear that he has designs for American territorial expansion.”

Not a joke? Trump’s son Eric posted an image on X showing Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada in an Amazon online shopping cart.

The Danish prime minister’s office simply brushed off the latest provocation. It blandly remarked that the government was “looking forward to working with the new administration” and left it at that.

As for the Panama Canal, one serious news source noted that Trump would be able to use “the world’s largest military” to back up his demands. The irony of discussing such rash international adventures without noting that Trump routinely accused his political opponents of being war-mongers was lost.

Greenland is still not for sale, but if it were on the market, it would be a big-ticket item, to say the least. Some analysts put the value of its natural resources alone in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Taking it by force would be a costly military operation.

How would starting the United States on a round of territorial expansion fit in with vows to chop $2 trillion out of the budget? Not well and another reason to dismiss the clown show.

At the very least, Trump should have to come up with new material.

Follow Froma Harrop on X @FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@gmail.com. Copyright 2024, Crreators.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, Feb. 12

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

CNA Nina Prigodich, right, goes through restorative exercises with long term care patient Betty Long, 86, at Nightingale's View Ridge Care Center on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Boost state Medicaid funding for long-term care

With more in need of skilled nursing and assisted-living services, funding must keep up to retain staff.

Welch: State Democrats’ bill would undermine parental rights

The bill would allow kids as young as 13 to make mental health decisions without notice to parents.

Kristof: Child malnutrition lost in politics over aid cuts

A young journalist describes the scene in Madagascar where a nutritious porridge provides a lifeline.

Comment: Trump sticks with NOAA official who bent to his ego

We haven’t seen the last of Trump’s Sharpie-amended reality and it’s destabilizing effect on scientists.

Dowd: Musk’s ‘Lost Boys’ join Trump’s ‘Mean Girls’ ethic to gut it all

Neither man shows any concern for the damage they threaten against individuals here and abroad.

bar graph, pie chart and diagrams isolated on white, 3d illustration
Editorial: Don’t let state’s budget numbers intimidate you

With budget discussions starting soon, a new website explains the basics of state’s budget crisis.

Curtains act as doors for a handful of classrooms at Glenwood Elementary on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Schools’ building needs point to election reform

Construction funding requests in Arlington and Lake Stevens show need for a change to bond elections.

FILE- In this Nov. 14, 2017, file photo Jaìme Ceja operates a forklift while loading boxes of Red Delicious apples on to a trailer during his shift in an orchard in Tieton, Wash. Cherry and apple growers in Washington state are worried their exports to China will be hurt by a trade war that escalated on Monday when that country raised import duties on a $3 billion list of products. (Shawn Gust/Yakima Herald-Republic via AP, File)
Editorial: Trade war would harm state’s consumers, jobs

Trump’s threat of tariffs to win non-trade concessions complicates talks, says a state trade advocate.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Tuesday, Feb. 11

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Sentencing reforms more complicated than column described

I read Todd Welch’s Jan. 29 column. He is certainly entitled to… Continue reading

President Trump running nation like his failed businesses

We’ve seen it before; President Trump will do or say anything to… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.