Daily News Lesson

SHOW ALL

Jan. 14, 2026, 1:46 p.m.

Shorts: Greenland pushes back against U.S. takeover

What to know

Video length: 1m:09s

  • President Trump and members of his administration have said in interviews that the U.S. will take control of Greenland "one way or another."
  • Greenland, an autonomous (self-governing) country within Denmark, is a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). NATO is a defense agreement between the U.S., many European counties and others such as Canada. As a NATO member, the U.S. already has access to military bases in Greenland.
  • The government of Greenland and Denmark have rejected the idea of a U.S. takeover of the territory.

Why it matters

A U.S. military takeover of Greenland would risk ending U.S. alliances. It is unclear who or what would benefit from a hostile takeover.

Discussion questions

  • Why is the Trump administration interested in taking control over Greenland?
  • Why do you think the Trump administration offers security concerns as a reason, even though the U.S. already has military in Greenland as part of NATO forces?

For more

Read Greenland's party leaders firmly reject Trump's push for U.S. takeover of island or watch the segment below: How Denmark views Trump's threats to take over Greenland.

Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter with Daily News Lessons and community events.

To provide feedback on News Hour Classroom's resources, including this lesson, click here.

Recent Daily News Lessons

glp1glp1-e1783634045618

Daily News Lesson

Some Medicare beneficiaries eligible for weight loss drug discounts

Explore how a key policy change could allow millions more Americans to access and afford GLP-1s

immigration

Daily News Lesson

Immigration judge says Trump administration's firings and policies are 'disheartening'

Learn about recent changes to the U.S. immigration court system and examine how those changes have sparked discussion about due process, judicial independence, and the role of the executive branch

American flags fly with U.S. Capitol on background

Daily News Lesson

Student Voices: America 250 series on a nation in progress

The founding-era documents are traveling beyond Washington, D.C., for the first time

recovery

Daily News Lesson

How hospitals are using the arts to help patients recover

Hospitals are beginning to integrate the arts within their system to help patient recovery via the positive emotions that come from it

SUPPORTED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY:

PBS News Hour Classroom

Copyright © 2025 News Hour Production LLC. All Rights Reserved

Illustrations by Annamaria Ward