Ahead of his son’s “private” visit, President-elect Donald Trump once again says he wants Greenland to become “part” of the United States.

Donald Trump Jr. has arrived in Greenland for a “private” visit as his father, President-elect Donald Trump, reiterates his desire to make the autonomous Danish territory part of the United States.

Because the younger Trump’s visit to the sprawling Arctic island Tuesday was unofficial, he is not expected to meet with Greenlandic or Danish officials.

Still, the trip has led to speculation that the president-elect would make an attempt to buy Greenland when he takes office on January 20.

Trump further fueled the speculation late Monday on his Truth Social account.

“I hear the people of Greenland are ‘MAGA,'” Trump wrote, referring to the Make America Great Again movement. “My son Don Jr. and various representatives will travel there to visit some of the most beautiful areas and attractions.”

“Greenland is an incredible place and its people will benefit tremendously if and when it becomes part of our nation,” Trump added. “We will protect and cherish it from a very malevolent outside world. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”

Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede has called for independence from Denmark, saying the island must free itself from its colonial past. The island was declared a Danish colony in 1721 and an autonomous dependent territory in 1953.

The independence movement has grown as more and more Danish colonial abuses against the predominantly Inuit population have come to light in recent years.

However, Egede has so far ruled out Greenland becoming part of the USA. In a statement, the Greenland government confirmed that Trump Jr.’s visit would be “as a private individual.”

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday: “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.” She added that the island was “not for sale.”

Trump Jr., for his part, also denied in a podcast address on Monday that his visit had a political motive.

“No, I’m not buying Greenland,” the younger Trump said. “Funnily enough, I’m actually taking a very long private day trip to Greenland.”

“Absolute necessity”

Trump had already considered purchasing Greenland during his first term as president from 2017 to 2021 and even postponed a visit to Denmark in 2019 after Prime Minister Frederiksen rejected the idea.

The president-elect has signaled that he wants to take a similarly disruptive approach to foreign policy this time. That includes efforts to expand U.S. reach, even as he has championed isolationism.

In December, Trump said U.S. control of Greenland was an “absolute necessity.”

The island is home to a major US military base and is considered strategically important as geopolitical rivals such as China and Russia fight for control of the Arctic.

This month, Trump also threatened to take back control of the Panama Canal from Panama, citing the strategic importance of the trade route that runs through Central America. Washington gave up control of the waterway in 1999 under a treaty signed in 1977 by the late President Jimmy Carter.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino quickly responded that the canal was “Panamanian and belongs to Panamanians” and ruled out any discussions with the Trump administration on the matter.