Key facts
- Donald Trump posted a map on Truth Social depicting North America, including Greenland and Iceland, as U.S. territory.
- Danish and Icelandic officials protested the map, calling it inappropriate and disturbing.
- French politicians also reacted to French territories being shown under the U.S. flag.
- Trump has previously expressed interest in acquiring Greenland and incorporating Canada into the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump sparked international outcry after posting a map on his Truth Social platform that depicted Greenland, Iceland, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean as part of the United States. The map, which included French, British, and Dutch territories under the U.S. flag, drew sharp criticism from European officials.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen described the map as 'disturbing' and 'inappropriate,' suggesting it reflected a 'maximalist vision' by Trump. Iceland's Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir summoned the U.S. Ambassador to convey that the post was 'entirely inappropriate.' The U.S. president has a history of conflating Iceland with Greenland and has previously expressed interest in acquiring Greenland and making Canada the 51st U.S. state.
French politicians also reacted to the map, with presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Mélenchon calling for action to protect French sovereignty, while conservative politician Xavier Bertrand stated that sovereignty is not determined by social media posts. The controversy emerged as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Greenland, announcing a significant investment package to deepen the island's ties with Europe.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of provocative posts by Trump on Truth Social, which have included claims about map changes and AI-generated imagery.
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