White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Sunday confirmed reports that US President Donald Trump was considering purchasing Greenland, the autonomous Danish territory located between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans
"We are looking into it...I don't want to predict it now. I'm just saying the President, who knows a thing or two about buying real estate, wants to take a look at a potential Greenland purchase," Kudlow said, during an appearance on Fox News Sunday.
He added that the self-ruling island was a "strategic place" with a lot of "valuable minerals".
Talk of a Greenland purchase was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters that the notion had been laughed off by some advisers as a joke, but was taken more seriously by others in the White House.
Danish politicians on Friday poured scorn on the idea.
Lars Loekke Rasmussen, who served as Danish Prime Minister until June, weighed in on social media, tweeting "it must be an April Fool's Day joke" and that it was "totally" out of season.
A Trump ally told The Associated Press on Thursday that the Republican President had discussed the purchase but was not serious about it.
"Because of the unofficial nature of the news, the government of Greenland has no further comments," Greenland said on its website.
Trump is due to visit Copenhagen in September, and the Arctic will be on the agenda during meetings with the Prime Ministers of Denmark and Greenland.
Reuters / APTN
