A Greenland official’s emotional reaction following a tense meeting at the White House was captured on live television, highlighting the impact of the unsuccessful talks.
During a meeting at the White House, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt engaged in discussions with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The aim was to ease the escalating tensions between Greenland and the United States.
Unfortunately, the meeting did not result in a resolution that could address President Donald Trump’s ambitions to acquire Greenland as a US territory.
“We didn’t manage to change the American position,” Rasmussen, 61, stated to reporters, according to Politico. “It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland. We made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of the Kingdom.”
This outcome was particularly difficult for Motzfeldt, 53, who became emotional during a live interview with Greenland’s national radio, Kalaallit Nunaata Radio.
In the interview, she expressed, “We have been working very hard in our department, even though there are not many of us,” as translated by Clash Report. “I would not normally like to say these words, but I will say them: We are very strong. We are doing our utmost. But the last days, naturally… Oh, I am getting very emotional. I am overwhelmed.”
She added: “The last days have been tough. Our preparations and the increasing pressure that has been intense. But I want to say, we are strong in the government. The work is to ensure that the Greenlandic people in our country can feel safe and live securely. We are using all our strength to achieve this as we continue the work.”
Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt gets visibly emotional, briefly breaks down on live interview:
“We are doing our utmost. But the last days, naturally… oh, I am getting very emotional. I am overwhelmed.” pic.twitter.com/8v5vHoAk0Y
— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 15, 2026
Trump, like several US Presidents before him, has expressed a strong interest in making Greenland a US territory, citing reasons such as Arctic security and countering threats from Russia and China.
While previous presidents had agreed to establish US military bases on the island, which Greenland accepted, Trump seeks outright ownership of the Danish territory.
In 2019, he made an offer to purchase the island during his first term, but the offer was rejected.
Nevertheless, he continues to pursue the acquisition, driven by interests in Greenland’s natural resources, such as rare earth minerals, uranium, and iron.
Greenland is also believed to have substantial oil and gas reserves.
Earlier this month, in an interview with the New York Times, Trump expressed the personal significance of owning Greenland, calling it ‘psychologically important’ to him.
“I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can’t do, whether you’re talking about a lease or a treaty,” he stated. Ownership provides elements and advantages that cannot be obtained through mere agreements.”
Moreover, he has issued warnings about possibly using force if Greenland continues to reject his proposals.
“We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not, because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor,” Trump told reporters on Jan. 9.