Stephen Miller dropped a bombshell on CNN Monday night, asserting with unyielding confidence that Greenland must become part of the United States, the Daily Mail reported.

Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and homeland security adviser, made this stark declaration on The Lead with Jake Tapper, shrugging off concerns about military action with a bold claim that no nation would dare challenge Washington over the Arctic territory.

His words, "Nobody's gonna fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland," landed like a gauntlet thrown down. When pressed on whether force was truly off the table, Miller sidestepped, instead questioning Denmark's rightful claim to the island with a pointed jab, "What is the basis of their territorial claim?"

Questioning Sovereignty and NATO Ties

This isn't a fleeting thought from Miller; he tied it directly to long-standing Trump administration policy. He told Tapper, "It has been the formal position of the US government since the beginning of this administration that Greenland should be part of the United States."

President Trump himself has doubled down, repeatedly calling Greenland vital to national security. Miller framed this as a necessary step to secure the Arctic and protect NATO interests, though it’s hard to miss the tension this stirs among allies who see borders as non-negotiable.

The controversy ignited over the weekend when Katie Miller, Stephen’s wife and a conservative media figure, posted an image of Greenland under an American flag with the caption "SOON." That single word, paired with recent U.S. actions in Venezuela, sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, especially in Denmark.

Denmark Fires Back with Resolve

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded swiftly on national television, firmly stating Greenland’s rejection of U.S. ownership. She warned, "If the US chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops, including NATO and thus the security that has been established since the end of the Second World War."

Frederiksen didn’t stop there, using her New Year’s address to condemn the idea of taking over other people as if they were property. Her government is now ramping up military spending and Arctic defenses, signaling they’re not backing down from this rhetorical standoff.

Denmark’s ambassador to the U.S., Jesper Møller Sørensen, also weighed in on social media, urging respect for territorial integrity. His reminder of shared security interests felt like a polite but firm nudge to Washington to rethink this aggressive posture.

Greenland’s Voice in the Debate

Greenlanders themselves aren’t keen on swapping flags, with a January 2025 Verian survey showing 85 percent opposed to joining the United States. Only six percent supported the idea, a stark contrast to the confidence Miller exudes on their behalf.

Despite legal rights to independence from Denmark since 2009, Greenland remains tied due to reliance on Danish financial and public service support. This dependency complicates any quick shift, no matter how much Washington pushes the narrative of strategic necessity.

Miller’s dismissal of military concerns as unnecessary to discuss only fuels unease among NATO partners. His focus on U.S. dominance in the alliance overlooks the very real autonomy of Greenlanders and the alliance’s foundational respect for sovereignty.

Strategic Interests or Overreach?

Trump’s visits to Greenland, alongside Vice President JD Vance’s trip to the U.S. military’s Pituffik Space Base, underscore the administration’s fixation on the region. The untapped mineral wealth and strategic positioning are no secret, but forcing a territorial grab risks fracturing alliances built over decades.

Frederiksen’s blunt critique, "Wanting to take over another country, other people, as if it were something you could buy and own - it doesn't belong anywhere," cuts to the heart of the issue. It’s a reminder that power plays in the Arctic can’t ignore the human and diplomatic cost.

While Miller and Trump frame this as a security imperative, the backlash from Denmark and Greenlanders shows a profound disconnect. The United States may see itself as NATO’s anchor, but strong-arming allies into submission could unravel the very stability they claim to protect.