The story of Donald Trump's startling interest in purchasing Greenland, a vast autonomous Danish territory, is a tale of personal influence and vanity, rather than grand geopolitical strategy. According to a new investigation, the seed of this idea was planted in the former US president's ear by a childhood friend: the billionaire cosmetics heir, Ronald Lauder.
The Billionaire in the President's Ear
As detailed by the Guardian's investigations correspondent Tom Burgis, the episode underscores a recurring theme of the Trump presidency. "The thing to remember, always, with Trump is that everything is about the psychodrama," Burgis explains. "Everything is who's in his ear, what bit of his vanity or insecurity has been activated." This insight is key to understanding how a casual suggestion transformed into a serious, if bizarre, foreign policy proposition.
The backstory, reportedly confirmed by former national security adviser John Bolton, began in 2018. Bolton revealed that Trump had been approached by a "prominent businessman" who suggested the United States should buy Greenland. That businessman was Ronald Lauder, the heir to the Estée Lauder global cosmetics empire and a friend of Trump's for more than six decades.
A Friendship Spanning Decades
Lauder's long-standing relationship with Trump gave his suggestion significant weight. When the billionaire made the proposal, Trump, known for his fascination with real estate deals and grand gestures, listened intently. This private conversation between two old acquaintances subsequently evolved into a genuine point of discussion within the Trump administration, with the US government reportedly conducting internal assessments on the feasibility of such a purchase, much to the bewilderment and offence of the Danish government.
However, the episode raises a critical question: what was Ronald Lauder's own interest in Greenland? The autonomous territory is rich in natural resources, including rare earth minerals, and holds growing strategic importance in the Arctic due to climate change. While Lauder declined to comment for the story, the suggestion points to the blurred lines between personal relationships, private business interests, and the levers of US power during Trump's tenure.
From Whisper to Geopolitical Threat
The ultimate consequence of this billionaire's whisper was a tangible diplomatic rift. The US threat, or perceived ambition, to acquire Greenland became very real, straining relations with a key NATO ally, Denmark. It showcased a governing style where offhand ideas from the president's inner social circle could rapidly escalate into official policy considerations, bypassing traditional diplomatic and strategic channels.
This incident remains a potent case study in how personal psychodrama and influential friendships can shape the agenda of the world's most powerful office, turning a fantastical real estate notion into an international headline.
