President Donald Trump’s long-standing obsession with Greenland continues with officials from the Trump administration now pitching the island’s annexation as a way to bring back endless shrimp at Red Lobster.
Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland began as far back as 2018 during an intelligence briefing on increased Chinese and Russian activity in the Arctic. Trump has since then argued that control of the island would help secure vast untapped natural resources while strengthening U.S. strategic and military positioning against Russia and China in the region.
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Now, according to the New Yorker, Thomas Dans, who was appointed by Trump to serve as chairman of the U.S Arctic Research Commission, said: “My view is that the United States could take all the seafood Greenland could produce, and cut out the middleman, and keep it from China—and you could bring back all-you-can-eat shrimp at Red Lobster.”
It’s unclear if Dans was joking or speaking seriously. The restaurant chain runs an endless shrimp promotion on a limited basis. Two years ago, the chain filed for bankruptcy, with the endless shrimp promotion being pointed to as emblematic of bad business.
TRUMP’S ENVOY TO GREENLAND PITCHES OIL-RICH ISLAND AS ANSWER TO HORMUZ ENERGY CRISIS
Dans said he proposed a plan to officials at the White House and Pentagon that combined elements of military readiness and strategic messaging. The proposal involved using Chinook helicopters from the Army’s elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
Trump’s remarks about acquiring Greenland have been met with opposition from both Greenland’s government and its residents. Denmark and a coalition of European allies, including Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, have also expressed support for Greenland.
