Jan 5, 2026 – After U.S. forces seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the White House issues hard‑line warnings to several regional governments: Trump calls Colombia’s president a “sick man who likes making cocaine,” says Cuba is “ready to fall,” and tells Mexico to “get their act together.” He also declares the United States “needs Greenland” for national security, accusing Denmark of being unable to protect the island from Russian and Chinese ships. Greenland’s prime minister denounces the remarks as “entirely unacceptable.” [6]

Jan 5, 2026 – An emergency U.N. Security Council meeting condemns the Maduro capture as a breach of international law and links the operation to Trump’s broader talk of expanding military action, including renewed claims on Greenland. Denmark’s ambassador stresses that “the inviolability of borders is not up for negotiation,” while the U.S. envoy defends the raid as a “surgical law‑enforcement operation.” The debate highlights the risk of setting a precedent for unilateral force. [8]

Jan 7, 2026 – Following the Venezuela operation, the administration shifts from rhetoric to concrete territorial ambition, openly pressing for Greenland and refusing to rule out force. European leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the U.K. join Denmark in affirming Greenland’s sovereignty, warning that any U.S. seizure would fracture NATO. Washington cites Greenland’s strategic position on North Atlantic sea lanes, early‑warning missile sites, and untapped oil and rare‑earth resources as justification for its push. [4][5]

Jan 12, 2026 – Trump announces the removal of Nicolás Maduro and says he will personally oversee Venezuela’s oil reserves, marking a direct attempt to dominate the Western Hemisphere’s energy assets. Simultaneously, he raises the prospect of U.S. ownership of Greenland, prompting alarm within NATO allies who view the claim as a breach of established European diplomatic norms. The White House also unveils a new national security strategy that emphasizes a more assertive U.S. role in the Americas, while ICE continues its crackdown after the killing of migrant Renee Good. [3]

Jan 14, 2026 – In a Detroit Economic Club speech, Trump previews a health‑care affordability agenda and reiterates that NATO would be stronger if the United States controlled Greenland, framing the island as essential to deterrence against Russia and China. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio host talks with Danish and Greenlandic officials, but Denmark and Greenland stress a “fundamental disagreement” over any U.S. control and pledge a high‑level working group to protect self‑determination. Senate Republicans, with Vance’s tie‑breaking vote, block a war‑powers resolution that would have required congressional approval for further military action in Venezuela, preserving the administration’s latitude. The White House also blames a DC U.S. attorney for the DOJ probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, while Trump says he does not plan to fire Powell. [1][2]

Jan 20, 2026 – Trump shares an AI‑edited map on Truth Social that depicts the United States encompassing Greenland, Canada and Venezuela, reinforcing his territorial ambitions. He reiterates that the U.S. will not rule out force to acquire Greenland and threatens tariffs on eight European countries starting Feb 1, rising to 25 % by June if the island is not “purchased.” Greenland’s prime minister again rejects U.S. governance, emphasizing the island’s desire to remain self‑determined. The image, derived from an August 2025 photo with European leaders, illustrates how the administration leverages visual propaganda to press its agenda. [7]