No Trump hotel for Greenland, US president promises

20 Aug 2019 • 10:20 AM MYT
Malay Mail
Malay Mail

Latest Malaysia breaking stories on politics, analysis and opinions

image is not available

A woman and child hold hands as they walk on the street in the town of Tasiilaq, Greenland June 15, 2018. — Reuters pic

WASHINGTON, Aug 20 — US President Donald Trump jokingly promised yesterday that he would not build one of his eponymous hotels in Greenland, the day after he confirmed his interest in buying the Danish territory.

Trump tweeted a meme depicting the golden Trump International Hotel Las Vegas towering over modest, primary-coloured houses along a rocky coast.

“I promise not to do this to Greenland!” he wrote.

Trump's son Eric also shared the meme on Instagram.

The meme first appeared on Twitter Thursday with the caption: “Greenland in 10 years.”

It was shared after The Wall Street Journal reported the president's interest in buying the island.

On Sunday, Trump confirmed his interest in doing so but said it was not a priority for his administration.

“Strategically it's interesting and we'd be interested, but we'll talk to (Denmark) a little bit,” he told reporters, adding that he viewed it as a “large real estate deal.”

Denmark colonised the two-million square kilometre island in the 18th century. It is home to only about 57,000 people, most of whom belong to the indigenous Inuit community.

Greenland's ministry of foreign affairs insisted Friday the resource-rich island was ready to talk business, but was not for sale. — AFP