If Greenland were to join the U.S., what deal would make Greenlanders actually want it?

I keep seeing occasional talk (especially in U.S. conservative media) about the benefits of taking over or bringing Greenland into the United States. I’m curious what Trump supporters think would make that appealing to Greenlanders.

Greenland is small, but it has meaningful political representation via Denmark (two representatives in Denmark’s parliament), plus a Nordic-style baseline of universal healthcare and tuition-free education, and it sits within a wealthy democratic system.

So if the U.S. wanted Greenlanders to say “yes,” what would the offer be that would be realistic?

Background on Trump’s statements about Greenland’s strategic importance

Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the U.S. “needs Greenland” for national security reasons, especially because of its Arctic location and concerns about Russia and China in the region.

For example:

• Trump framed Greenland as strategically vital and said the U.S. “needs Greenland” for security reasons.
• — Reuters (Jan 2026):
• European leaders rally behind Greenland in face of renewed US threat
• The administration has argued that Greenland matters because of Arctic shipping routes, military positioning, and growing Russian and Chinese interest in the region.
• — PBS NewsHour:
• Here’s why Trump says the U.S. “needs” Greenland for Arctic security
• Danish and Greenlandic politicians have pushed back, saying “Greenland is not for sale,” after Trump repeated that the U.S. needs it for strategic reasons.
• — Al Jazeera:
• Greenland is not for sale, lawmaker says amid Trump’s escalating threats
• The White House has even said that military options could not be ruled out in pursuing U.S. control of Greenland.
• — ABC News:
• U.S. military option for acquiring Greenland not ruled out, White House says

What I’m trying to understand from Trump supporters

Trump often uses the word “need,” which makes this sound less like opportunism and more like a true national-security requirement.

So I’m also curious: do you agree that the U.S. genuinely needs Greenland, or is it more that Greenland would be advantageous (nice to have) but not strictly necessary?

If you think the U.S. truly needs Greenland, then what price would be worth paying to make Greenlanders actually want the deal?

For example:

• Would the U.S. need to offer full statehood (with Senators and a voting House member), rather than a territory/commonwealth model?
• Would we need to guarantee Greenlanders they keep key parts of their current system (healthcare and tuition-free education), and if so, how would that be structured and funded?
• What would be a fair deal for Greenlanders that would also be acceptable to U.S. voters?

I’m interested in what you think the strongest pro-U.S.-integration argument is when you look at it from Greenlanders’ point of view.