Camilla Jessen
Only one in five Americans supports Trump’s efforts to annex Greenland, poll finds.
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that just 17 % of Americans support President Donald Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, and there is broad opposition to using military force to do so.
Most respondents also expressed concern that the effort could strain U.S. alliances, as reported by Reuters.
Public opinion largely negative
The survey, conducted over two days in early January 2026, found that nearly half of Americans (47 %) disapprove of efforts to acquire Greenland, while 35 % say they are unsure.
Just 17 % voiced approval of the policy.
One in five said they were not aware of the Greenland plans at all, highlighting how little the issue resonates with many U.S. adults.
Military force strongly opposed
Support for using military force to take Greenland is extremely low.
Only around 4 % of Americans said it would be a good idea to use force to take the island from Denmark — including just 10 % of Republicans and “almost no Democrats,” the poll found.
About 71 % of respondents said it would be a bad idea, with strong majorities in both parties objecting.
Another recent poll showed similar opposition: in a YouGov survey, nearly 73 % of Americans rejected the idea of a U.S. military takeover of Greenland, with only about 8 % in favor, and both Democrats and Republicans mostly opposed.
Concerns about alliances
About 66 % of respondents said they were worried that pursuing Greenland could harm NATO and U.S. relations with European allies.
That figure included 91 % of Democrats and 40 % of Republicans.
Denmark has warned that any attempt to use military force would jeopardize NATO, the 75-year-old transatlantic defense pact that has been central to Western security since World War II.
Trump’s rationale and diplomatic pushback
Trump has argued that Greenland is strategically vital and rich in minerals, and has floated options ranging from financial incentives to military pressure to secure U.S. control.
Greenland’s government and Denmark have firmly rejected the idea, with leaders reaffirming their desire to remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark and NATO.
Other polling indicates that Greenlanders themselves strongly oppose becoming part of the United States, with surveys showing around 85 % rejecting the proposal, a factor complicating any acquisition effort under international law and public opinion.
