Many people from US President Donald Trump’s circle are investing heavily in Greenland and building networks of influence there. These activities attracted the attention of Danish intelligence services and journalists, who initially viewed them as covert sabotage operations. However, how He writes According to the New York Times, there appears to be nothing hidden or subversive in these operations.
Investors in Greenland include Ronald Lauder, an old friend of Trump who is believed to have first suggested to Trump the idea of imposing US control on the island, as well as Cantor Fitzgerald, a company formerly headed by Howard Lutnick, now US Secretary of Commerce.
Other people around Trump have their own ambitious projects in Greenland. Thus, Drew Horn, a former employee of the US Department of Energy and head of GreenMet, which invests in the mining industry, intends to build a huge data center on the island and power it from a new power plant that runs on meltwater flowing from glaciers due to climate change.
In the future, Horn intends to build on this power plant to develop other energy-intensive projects in Greenland, including aluminum production. His company GreenMet focuses on rare earth projects that are also on the island.
Thomas Dance, Trump’s Arctic adviser, is organizing public relations trips to Greenland for celebrities, including Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son. He also organized the visit of US Vice President J.D. Vance to the island. The original program involved interacting with local residents, including attending a sled dog race. But when it became clear that Vance would be met with protests, the program was significantly reduced: the Vice President visited only the American military base.
In addition, Dance organized the arrival of Greenlandic builder Jürgen Boassen to the United States. He participated in Trump’s election campaign in 2024, and after returning to his country, he became one of the most famous supporters of the American president on the island. However, his views are not widely popular among his compatriots, as the New York Times points out.
Another figure organizing US “influence operations” in Greenland is Chris Cox, a member of the General Council of the Department of Homeland Security and founder of the “Bikers for Trump” movement. He often visits the island to, as he puts it, “make friends.” He openly criticizes the Danish government for its treatment of Greenlanders. Danish intelligence services believe he is trying to stir up separatist sentiment on the island.
None of these people are trying to hide their activities. They give interviews, post a lot on social networks, and talk openly about promoting American interests.
Trump began insisting that the United States should own Greenland in the spring of 2025. In August it was broadcast on Danish television. Plot About American “influence operations” on the island. The names of Horne, Dance and Cox are not mentioned, but it is clear from the description of “operations” that they were primarily concerned with their activities. The Danish Foreign Ministry summoned the US ambassador for clarification the day after the story was published.
Danish Foreign Minister Luke Rasmussen said that information regarding the actions of foreign players inside the country cannot be ignored. Meanwhile, those close to Trump, as well as official US authorities, categorically deny accusations of any illegal actions.