Trump Spars With Danish PM In ‘Horrendous’ Call Over Greenland: ‘Potentially Very Dangerous’

President Donald Trump sparred with Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in a “horrendous” phone call over U.S. control of Greenland, according to European officials.

Last week the two leaders spoke for 45 minutes over Trump’s determination to take over Greenland which is a longtime territory of the kingdom of Denmark. Trump has claimed that Greenland is of vital importance to U.S. national security.

Some European officials had hoped that Trump’s rhetoric over Greenland was merely a ploy to gain more influence in NATO territory. However, according to the Financial Times, sources familiar with the discussion claim the phone call was “horrendous” and raised their concern that Trump is actually serious.

Frederiksen emphasized that Greenland was not for sale to Trump on the call that took place shortly before his inauguration. Moreover, five current and former senior European officials told the FT that Frederiksen’s resistance led to an aggressive reaction from Trump.

“It was horrendous,” one source told FT while another person added, “He was very firm. It was a cold shower. Before, it was hard to take it seriously. But I do think it is serious, and potentially very dangerous.”

Frederiksen offered to give the U.S. more co-operation over military bases and mineral mining in Greenland but that did not satisfy the president.

Trump had previously said he would not rule out using military and economic force to pressure Denmark to hand over Greenland. The president has also suggested using the military to retake control of the Panama Canal.