Trump’s man in Greenland is on a mission to establish American control

Danish state broadcaster DR has published a story about Thomas Dans, a man on a mission to make Greenlanders American citizens. Dans, a venture capitalist, who served as a Commissioner for the United States Arctic Research Commission during Donald Trump’s first term, claims to have a plan that would grant U.S. citizenship to Greenlandic residents while allowing them to remain in Greenland. He argues that this would strengthen American influence and security in the Arctic.

According to DR, Dans’ plan envisions Greenlanders becoming U.S. citizens without the U.S. taking on the financial responsibilities that Denmark currently shoulders. Greenland receives annual financial support from Denmark, but Dans suggests that this would not be necessary under his proposal. However, it remains unclear how such an arrangement would work in practice or whether it has any formal backing from U.S. officials.

As part of his efforts to build local connections, Dans has sought out allies on the ground in Greenland, including Jørgen Boassen, a Greenlandic bricklayer and Trump supporter. According to DR, Dans has covered Boassen’s travel costs and promised him a salary to help establish contacts locally. Last month, Dans travelled with Boassen and Greenlandic politician Kuno Fencker (Siumut) to Washington, to meet with Trump officials and supporters. Fencker was heavily criticized by his party leadership for unilaterally deciding on the visit and thereby going around the Greenlandic prime minister, Muté B. Egede. The trip is an example of Dans’ active efforts to engage with Greenlanders and promote his vision for closer U.S.-Greenland ties.

Dans’ proposal to make the Arctic nation a part of the U.S. contrasts with the position of Greenland’s Prime Minister, Múte B. Egede, who stated in an interview with FOX News in January that the Greenlandic people want to be independent and remain Greenlandic—not American. When asked about this, Dans surprisingly agreed, saying, “I completely agree with him. Our security is inseparably linked.”

However, Dans did not directly address how Greenland could both come under the U.S. while remaining independent. Instead, he suggested that people should take a more nuanced view of independence, implying that sovereignty and U.S. affiliation could coexist in some form.

When asked about a recent poll showing that a overwhelming majority of Greenlanders do not want to become American citizens, Dans dismissed the results as “fake news.”

Before Trump’s election win, Dans worked at the Heritage Foundation, where his twin brother Paul Dans was one of the main authors of the controversial Project 2025 policy agenda.

In recent weeks, Arctic Today has repeatedly reached out to Thomas Dans for an interview without luck.