There seems to be little that President Trump and one of his first-term national security advisers, John Bolton, agree on publicly these days 鈥� but one issue may be whether the U.S. should acquire Greenland from Denmark.
Making Greenland an American territory or commonwealth, in Bolton's view, could help with security interests of "critical importance" to the U.S. and allies in fending off potential threats from adversaries like Russia and China.
Trump fired Bolton in 2019 鈥� the same year the president first spoke about his ambitions for Greenland. And Bolton told NPR that he thinks the president ruined the country's chances of negotiating to acquire the semiautonomous territory by failing to speak privately with Danish leaders about the possibility first.
While Bolton, who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush, maintains there are other paths to allowing the U.S. and allies to fend off geopolitical threats in the Arctic region, he accused Trump of acting like a "playground bully" in his approach 鈥� noting Trump's refusal to rule out military force to take Greenland.
In response to Bolton's remarks, White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes told NPR:
"President Trump's America First Policy is already paying dividends 鈥� especially in the Western Hemisphere. Both Mexico & Canada have agreed to send troops and personnel to our borders to stop the flow of fentanyl from China, Panama is ending its Belt & Road deal with China, Maduro has released six American hostages from Venezuela, and Colombia agreed to take repatriation flights for their citizens in the U.S. illegally. We're sorry John Bolton can't comprehend the President's many successes in just three weeks."
All Things Considered host Juana Summers spoke to Bolton about his views on Trump's policy toward Greenland and Denmark.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Interview highlights
Juana Summers: Obviously, a possible acquisition of Greenland is a sensitive topic for many. You've talked in the past about President Trump's plans to negotiate with Denmark to buy Greenland during his first term. And you've said that he effectively blew up any possibility of that happening by airing those plans publicly before privately raising them with Danish leaders. So to achieve the kinds of strategic security goals that exist in the region now, what kind of path forward do you think there is?
John Bolton: Well, I'd be happy if everybody started to just put it behind them and not discuss it publicly. It's obviously sensitive both for the government of Denmark and for the local government in Greenland. And by making outrageous statements, including refusing to rule out the use of force, Trump is getting in his own way. He's making it harder to reach a solution th