As if his ranting about Panama wasn’t bad enough, yesterday, Trump also posted that “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” Yep… that’s right, the senile old man’s fixation with Greenland has resurfaced, and it’s as bizarre now as it was when he floated the idea of buying it— or trading Puerto Rico for it— back in 2019. At that time, his proposal was widely ridiculed and dismissed as a diplomatic blunder. Now, as a private citizen, his comments carry no legal authority, but they raise serious concerns since he’ll be inaugurated in a couple of weeks.
In both cases, his aggressive statements violate the Logan Act— a federal law enacted in 1799 that prohibits unauthorized individuals from negotiating with foreign governments on behalf of the U.S. The Logan Act is intended to prevent private citizens from interfering in the government’s foreign policy. Although no one has ever been convicted under the law, it has been cited in cases involving private citizens undermining official U.S. diplomatic positions. It would be wrong for Biden to have Trump arrested and shot without a trial, but if he had him arrested this afternoon, tried on Thursday and executed over the weekend, the country and the world would be better off. And Biden would be immune if you had made a boo-boo. Who would become president though? Vance, who has never been sworn in and wasn’t elected president? Musk can’t because although he bought the presidency, as Trump pointed out over the weekend, he’s a not native-born. Kamala? A new election?
You may be wondering why Señor T keeps doing this. We should probably consult a psychiatrist since his Greenland comments— much like his Panama Canal rant— reflect a pattern of behavior driven by authoritarian fantasies, attention-seeking and, in all likelihood, distraction tactics. Orange-Psycho sees international relations in transactional and imperialistic terms, virtually always simplistically framing foreign policy as a matter of dominance and acquisition rather than cooperation, harkening back to his admiration for “strongman” leaders who exert control over territories.
Of course this is also about his compulsion to always dominate the news cycle with foolish provocative statements like this energize his moron base, who see him as a bold, unconventional leader. These statements often coincide with legal or financial troubles, like when his choice for attorney general was just exposed as a statutory rapist. Childish attempt to divert attention.
It’s always wrong to overlook that likelihood that his statements may have less to do with national security and more to do with his past or future financial interests in Greenland, particularly its natural resources, which he’s previously shown interest in exploiting— not to mention is tax abdlegal troubles in Panama..
I think everyone knows by now that his foreign policy pronouncements reveal a dangerous lack of understanding about international law, diplomacy and strategic alliances. His obsession with territorial acquisitions underscores a mindset rooted in 19th-century imperialism, which threatens America’s global standing. Moreover comments like these can damage relationships with allies and create unnecessary diplomatic rifts while his erratic and deranged statements could embolden Russia and China, who may seek to exploit the chaos and confusion surrounding U.S. intentions.
Last night David Sanger and Lisa Friedman reported that Señor T “has made clear that he has designs for American territorial expansion, declaring that the United States has both security concerns and commercial interests that can best be addressed by bringing the Panama Canal and Greenland under American control or outright ownership.” And they say he isn’t joking. “He appears to covet Greenland both for its strategic location at a time when the melting of Arctic ice is opening new commercial and naval competition and for its reserves of rare earth minerals needed for advanced technology… His aggressive interpretation of ‘America First’ evokes the expansionism, or colonialism, of President Theodore Roosevelt, who took control of the Philippines [as well as Puerto Rico and Guam] after the Spanish-American War. And it reflects the instincts of a real estate developer who suddenly has the power of the world’s largest military to back up his negotiating strategy.”