how do americans feel about greenland

Most Americans don’t think much about Greenland day to day, but when asked directly, polls show they generally like it as a friendly place and strongly oppose any U.S. attempt to take it over or “buy” it. Recent debates tied to Trump-era ideas of acquiring Greenland have actually made many Americans more wary of expansionist moves than excited about owning new territory.

Overall public sentiment

• Polls in 2026 show that about three‑quarters of Americans oppose the U.S. trying to take control of Greenland in any form.

• In one survey, only 8% support using military force to take Greenland, while around two‑thirds oppose it.

• Majorities of Americans see Greenland and Denmark as allies or friendly countries, not enemies.

Views on “buying” or annexing Greenland

• A CNN poll found 75% of Americans opposed the U.S. trying to take control of Greenland, with just 25% in favor.

• A separate poll found 55% oppose even a hypothetical peaceful purchase of Greenland, and opposition jumps to 86% if force is mentioned.

• When asked about paying Greenlanders to secede from Denmark and join the U.S., Americans opposed the idea by roughly 64% to 13%.

Party and political angles

• Republicans are more split, with about half supporting and half opposing U.S. control of Greenland in one poll, reflecting loyalty to Trump’s rhetoric among some conservatives.

• Democrats and Democratic‑leaning independents overwhelmingly reject the idea, with roughly 94% opposed and many “strongly” opposed.

• Independents who don’t lean to either party also lean heavily against any takeover or purchase.

How Greenlanders’ feelings shape U.S. perceptions

• Reporting on Greenlanders’ reactions highlights that most residents dislike the idea of joining the U.S., fear recolonization, and prefer their current welfare-state model with Denmark.

• Stories of Greenlanders saying they “won’t be bought” or “sold” have circulated in U.S. media, reinforcing the view among many Americans that pressing the issue would be disrespectful and unnecessary.

Trend since Trump’s proposal

• Since Trump first floated buying Greenland in 2019 and then revived the idea as president again, coverage has emphasized both Greenlandic resistance and American skepticism.

• New 2026 polling shows no groundswell for a modern “Manifest Destiny”; instead, most Americans worry Trump is overstepping by pushing to expand U.S. control over other countries, including Greenland.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.