Trump says ‘massive’ oil and gas exploration to begin in Greenland

News The president’s announcement came after he stumped for Alaska GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan, who is battling for re-election in a state where energy is central to politics. Oct.

14, 2026, 1:18 PM EDT President Donald Trump said Wednesday that “massive” oil, gas and mineral exploration will soon begin in “our new and beautiful Greenland,” the natural resource-rich Danish territory he has several times threatened to seize. The president’s announcement pointed to Greenland’s potentially large stores of offshore oil and gas, but offered no detail about what an exploration of the Arctic island’s natural resources would require.

Greenland is a semiautonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and any U.S. plan to extract its resources would need approval from both governments. Though Greenland boasts large deposits of rare earth minerals and potentially vast volumes of offshore oil and gas, the island’s harsh climate and complicated geology have so far made resource extraction nearly impossible.

No large-scale extraction projects have yet succeeded on the island. Trump’s interest in acquiring the strategically positioned territory dates back to his first term. After returning to the White House last year, he escalated threats of using U.S. military and economic force to wrest control of the island from Denmark, a key NATO ally.

Trump signed a security agreement last month with Greenland and Denmark, allowing the U.S. to expand its military presence on the island while limiting strategic sector investments by non-NATO countries. It does not, however, give the U.S. any exclusive exploration or mining rights.

Trump’s latest post appeared on his Truth Social platform shortly after he spoke in Wasilla, Alaska, at a campaign event for Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, who is locked in a tight race against former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola in the oil-rich state where energy is central to politics.

The outcome of the contest is crucial to the GOP’s chances of retaining control of the Senate at a time when voters are feeling the pain of soaring fuel prices driven by Trump’s war with Iran. The average cost of a gallon of gas in Alaska is more than $5 statewide, while diesel prices hit their highest-ever recorded level in September.

Sydney Carruth Sydney Carruth is a breaking news reporter covering national politics and policy for MS NOW. You can send her tips from a non-work device on Signal at SydneyCarruth.46 or follow her work on X and Bluesky.