A timeline of US President Donald Trump's interest in Greenland

President Donald Trump's interest in a U.S. acquisition of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, first became publicly known in 2019. Here's a timeline of events that led to a crisis between Washington and its European allies.

Aug., 2019: During his first term, Trump expresses interest in buying Greenland for the U.S., but says it's “not No. 1 on the burner.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismisses it as “an absurd discussion.” Trump then says he canceled a trip to Denmark because Frederiksen made a “nasty” statement in rejecting his idea.

Dec. 22, 2024: Weeks before his second term begins, President-elect Trump renews his interest, declaring that “the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” Greenland's prime minister, Múte Bourup Egede, says that "we are not for sale and will never be for sale.”

Jan. 7, 2025: Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., visits Greenland. The president-elect says he won't rule out using military force to take control of Greenland.

March 11, 2025: Greenlanders elect a new parliament in a vote that produces a win for the Demokraatit party of Jens-Frederik Nielsen. Shortly afterward, all five parties in the legislature reject Trump's talk of the U.S. taking control.

March 27, 2025: Four of the five parties in Greenland's parliament agree to form a coalition government with Nielsen as prime minister.

March 28, 2025: Vice President JD Vance visits the U.S. Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland and accuses Denmark of underinvesting in the island's security.

March 29, 2025: Denmark's foreign minister scolds the U.S. for the tone of its criticism. Trump says he never takes “military force off the table.”

Aug. 27, 2025: Denmark's Foreign Ministry summons the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen after a Danish broadcaster reports that at least three people with connections to Trump have been carrying out covert influence operations in Greenland.

Dec. 21, 2025: Trump announces that he is appointing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry to serve as the U.S. ‌special envoy to Greenland. Landry says it's an honor to serve in the position “to make Greenland a part of the U.S.”

Dec. 22, 2025: The leaders of Denmark and Greenland insist that the U.S. won’t take over Greenland. The Danish foreign minister says he's summoning the U.S. ambassador.

Jan. 4, 2026: Talk of a U.S. takeover of Greenland flares up again after the U.S. ousts Nicolás Maduro as president of Venezuela.

Jan. 5, 2026: Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen says an American military takeover of Greenland would amount to the end of NATO.

Jan. 6, 2026: Major European leaders join Frederiksen in a statement defending the sovereignty of Greenland. The White House says that “utilizing the U.S. military is always an option” for Trump.

Jan. 8, 2026: Trump says in an interview that he has to possess the entirety of Greenland instead of just exercising a long-standing treaty that gives the U.S. wide latitude to use Greenland for military posts.

Jan. 13, 2026: Greenlandic Prime Minister Nielsen says Greenland chooses Denmark “if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now."

Jan. 14, 2026: The Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers meet in Washington with Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They agree to set up a working group, but Denmark and the White House then offer sharply diverging public views of its purpose. Denmark announces plans to boost the country's military presence in the Arctic and several European allies say they're sending small numbers of troops to Greenland for reconnaissance on Arctic security. Danish media later report that Copenhagen prepared for a real conflict, deploying with explosives and blood supplies.

Jan. 16, 2026: Trump says he may punish countries with tariffs if they don’t back the U.S. controlling Greenland.

Jan. 17, 2026: Trump says he will charge a 10% import tax starting in February on goods from eight European nations because of their opposition to U.S. control of Greenland.

Jan. 19, 2026: An exchange of texts with the Norwegian prime minister shows Trump linking his stance on Greenland to not winning the Nobel Peace Prize and saying that he no longer feels “an obligation to think purely of Peace.”

Jan. 21, 2026: Hours after saying he wants Greenland “including right, title and ownership," Trump scraps the threatened tariffs against European countries. He says he agreed with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on a “framework of a future deal” on Arctic security.

Jan. 28, 2026: Technical talks between the U.S., Denmark and Greenland over an Arctic security deal start.

Feb. 21, 2026: Trump says he will deploy a hospital ship to Greenland, alleging that many people there are sick and not receiving care. His post comes after Denmark’s military said its forces evacuated a crew member of a U.S. submarine off Greenland for urgent medical treatment. Greenlandic Prime Minister Nielsen says “no thank you” to the hospital ship.

July 7, 2026: Trump renews tensions ahead of a NATO summit, saying that Greenland “should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark.” Frederiksen reiterates that Greenland is "not for sale" and says that Denmark is “ready to defend every inch of NATO including our own territory” in the event of an attack.

Sept. 18, 2026: Trump announces that he has a deal to bolster the U.S. military presence in Greenland. Danish officials are cautiously optimistic, with Frederiksen emphasizing that the planned agreement recognizes Denmark's sovereignty and the Greenlandic people's right to self-determination.

President Donald Trump speaks during an event about healthcare in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Aaron Donald shrugged off a block, stepped into a gap and wrapped up Najee Harris, stuffing the Giants running back on a key third down in the red zone Monday night.

The tackle for loss was vintage AD, and it was the biggest highlight of the 35-year-old star's successful return to the Los Angeles Rams after a 2 1/2-year retirement. Donald is officially back on the Rams' defensive line, and they celebrated with a 28-6 victory over New York.

Rams fans let Donald know how much they appreciated his decision all night — but particularly after he swallowed up Harris to force a field goal at a vulnerable moment for Los Angeles' defense.

“It felt good,” Donald said with a grin. “It would have felt better if I’d been able to slam him. ... I felt the love. I felt it when I made that little tackle for loss and heard the fans say, ‘Hey, Aaron!’ or whatever."

The three-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year made three tackles during his first NFL game action in 32 months, taking regular snaps on the defensive line all night at SoFi Stadium. He saw fewer double-teams than he normally faced during his first 10 years in the league, and he regretted the minor technique mistakes that prevented him from making more of those opportunities.

Donald was pleased overall with his return, even though he gave an exaggerated wince as he took the postgame podium.

“I’m just a little sore,” he said with a grin. “Man, just two padded practices, and then a game!”

“The game wasn't really as fast as I thought,” Donald added. “It was more me, calming myself down. Overrunning stuff, or my feet not being on the ground where they're supposed to be, not trusting my eyes, little stuff like that.”

Donald felt some similarities to 2017 and 2018, when he held out of training camp and the preseason in a contract dispute with the Rams. When the holdouts ended, his famed technique wasn't pinpoint-perfect.

“It was the same way when I came back," he said. "It took a couple of games to get going. But it's a little different: I ain't played in two years, so I've got to watch the film and see what I did good, what I did wrong.”

Donald remained a popular figure in Los Angeles during his retirement, and fans were eager to celebrate his return. He was introduced last in the Rams’ pregame starting lineup, setting off frenzied roars throughout the SoFi stands as he sprinted onto the field through a corridor of hyped teammates.

“I was so juiced,” NFL MVP Matthew Stafford said. “He came running out of the tunnel, and I couldn't control myself. I was freaking hyped up, man. I'm sure you all were in there, but man, the fans were happy to see him back, and we all were, too. Just the human being, the player, all of it combined, what he brings to our team, into our locker room, is unmatched — and really to the city, which I thought was amazing. I thought it was a great reception for him tonight.”

Many fans sported his No. 99 jersey or held up signs welcoming him back. Donald huddled with his wife and children on the field while the Rams warmed up, and he even stopped to autograph a sign held by a young fan declaring: “The Beast Is Back!”

Donald retired in March 2024 after a 10-year career spent entirely with the Rams in St. Louis and Los Angeles. Along with his three Player of the Year awards, he was an eight-time All-Pro and a 10-time Pro Bowl selection who had 111 sacks — an extraordinary number for an interior lineman — and won a Super Bowl ring.

Donald began to entertain the notion of a comeback after the arrival of Myles Garrett, a two-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year after setting the league's single-season sacks record with 23 last season for Cleveland.

Donald couldn't resist the chance to team up with one of his few contemporary peers in defensive line play — but that connection likely will have to wait for a month. After a zero-tackle debut in Australia in which he clearly wasn't at his best, Garrett had surgery on his knee last week, and he will miss at least the next four games while on the injured list.

The Rams' defense improved sharply from Week 1 with Donald in the lineup, although everybody realized the injury absence of Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart was the biggest reason. Los Angeles allowed just 182 yards — a paltry 3.3 per play — and kept New York out of the end zone.

Donald contributed, but he wants to do more. He lamented a few rushes that got “a little too high” — a key for an undersized lineman who built a stellar career on winning leverage battles with strength and technique.

“I had some 1-on-1s, (but) I've just got to win them a little faster," Donald said. “I popped up, got a little high, got too excited. Hopefully we keep getting blocked like that, and we'll get going. I'm not worried about it.”

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald, left, looks up a sign held by a young fan before an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Inglewood, Calif., Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., right, shakes hands with Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald before an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald huddles with his family before an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Inglewood, Calif., Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)