When President Trump put Greenland back on the map, he did what real leaders do: he called attention to a strategic opportunity others had been ignoring. That attention sparked a feeding frenzy among some of the world’s richest people, who quietly moved capital and influence toward the island’s mineral riches. What should make every American sit up straight is that private capital followed where national interest led—proof that spotlighting a challenge produces action rather than hand-wringing.
Forbes reports that names like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg and Sam Altman have backed projects hunting for rare earth minerals and other strategic resources in Greenland, while investors such as Ronald Lauder have shown interest in local ventures. These are not small bets; they are strategic plays aimed at securing critical inputs for 21st-century industry and defense. Conservatives should recognize that private investment in strategic minerals is exactly the kind of market-driven strength America needs, not the surrender of our future to foreign powers.
There’s convenient hypocrisy at work from the coastal elites who lecture patriotism but funnel money into far-off resource grabs when it suits them. Forbes and other reporting make clear that these investments accelerated after Trump’s public interest, showing that political clarity by American leadership moves markets. Rather than condemn the investors, conservatives ought to call out those who pretend to be offended by American strength while covertly buying influence abroad.
The strategic argument is not fanciful: Greenland sits atop mineral wealth and a location that matters in a world where China and Russia are actively pursuing Arctic influence. That reality is precisely why an American administration raising the issue prompted wealthy Americans to put skin in the game—because they saw both economic upside and national-security necessity. If Democrats and globalists refuse to secure American access through statecraft, private capital will try to fill the vacuum; better private American partnerships than foreign control.
But make no mistake: Greenland’s government and Denmark have pushed back hard against any suggestion of a U.S. takeover, insisting their sovereignty and NATO ties must be respected. Those principled stands create diplomatic friction and complicate a straightforward path to partnership, which is why we need smarter, tougher diplomacy that respects allies while advancing American interests. Conservatives should demand leverage and win-win agreements instead of moralizing retreats that leave strategic terrain to rivals.
Meanwhile, every time Washington dithers, Beijing and Moscow circle like predators looking for advantage in the Arctic—and that is not a speculative worry but a documented concern on the world stage. If left-leaning politicians prefer lectures about imperialism to practical solutions, the result will be real strategic losses for the United States. Conservatives must push for policies that defend American supply chains and keep critical minerals in friendly hands, not in those of adversaries or indifferent global institutions.
Here’s the conservative play: back American investment, negotiate firm trilateral agreements that respect Greenlandic sovereignty, and use every tool—diplomacy, trade, development—to knit Greenland closer to the West without alienating allies. Forbes’ reporting highlights options short of outright purchase, like formalized Arctic cooperation and private-public partnerships, which are the pragmatic path forward. This is how patriots protect the homeland and create prosperity at the same time.
Patriotism means seeing opportunity and acting with boldness and principle, and President Trump’s willingness to speak plainly about Greenland forced a conversation others were afraid to have. Lawmakers have even proposed measures to codify American approaches to the island, showing this debate is moving from talk to potential policy. Hardworking Americans should insist their leaders secure strategic resources and alliances so our children inherit strength, not vulnerability.
