How a billionaire with interests in Greenland encouraged Trump to acquire the territory [View all]
So now we get to the truth about Trump’s obsession with Greenland. As usual, it’s all about the money and rewarding billionaire buddies for donating big bucks to him. Ronald Lauder had invested in Greenland and no doubt wanted a better return on his money. Lauder also suggested that the US explore Ukraine’s minerals. As we all know, Trump makes decisions solely in the interests of his billionaire friends.
“One day during his first term, Donald Trump summoned a top aide to discuss a new idea. “Trump called me down to the Oval Office,” John Bolton, national security adviser in 2018, told the Guardian. “He said a prominent businessman had just suggested the US buy Greenland.”
It was an extraordinary proposal. And it originated from a longtime friend of the president who would go on to acquire business interests in the Danish territory.
The businessman, Bolton learned, was Ronald Lauder. Heir to a makeup fortune – the global cosmetics brand Estée Lauder – he had known Trump, a fellow wealthy New Yorker, for more than 60 years.
Bolton said he discussed the Greenland proposition with Lauder. After the billionaire’s intervention, a White House team began to explore ways to increase US sway in the vast Arctic territory controlled by Denmark.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/15/ronald-lauder-billionaire-donor-donald-trump-ukraine-greenland
= new reply since forum marked as read