[In addition to his promise to put America first and make it great again, President Donald Trump has also expressed interest in redrawing the map of the Western Hemisphere to make America bigger. During a recent press conference at Mar-a-lago, Trump suggested that the US should obtain Greenland from Denmark, reclaim the Panama Canal from Panama, and turn Canada into the 51st state.
Trump also proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which he believes has a “beautiful ring” to it. While it’s unclear how serious he is about pursuing these ideas, Trump’s repeated mention of Greenland, Panama, and Canada suggests that they are not just fleeting notions.
The concept of expansion is deeply ingrained in the American psyche, with US history being built around the idea of Manifest Destiny, said retired Ambassador Gordon Gray. The US has expanded its territory through purchases, wars, and other means throughout its history, including the acquisition of Alaska and Hawaii in 1959.
Trump’s ideas on expansion seem to contradict the idea of the US as a protector of the West, and his complaints about Canada, Panama, and Mexico revolve around the notion that the US is being taken advantage of. However, his refusal to rule out using military force to obtain land in Greenland or Panama gives pause to those who recall his promise to keep the US out of wars.
The US has experience buying land from Denmark, having purchased the US Virgin Islands in 1917 for $25 million in gold coin. There are many reasons for the US to be interested in Greenland, including its wealth of minerals, and Trump’s comments about it deserve special attention.
Trump’s ideas about Canada and Panama seem more political, geared at complaining about China’s growing influence, a key issue for many of his followers. Trump’s comments about the Panama Canal also seem to be aimed at criticizing Jimmy Carter, who signed a treaty returning the Canal zone to Panama in 1977.
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