ICE Kills U.S. Woman in Her Car
PDS Published 01/07/2026
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Ice just killed an American in Minneapolis today.
Details are still coming out because this JUST happened, but here’s the setup.
ICE officers were on a residential street and it looks like there were protestors there watching and recording. [broll 0:09-0:12]
One seemed to have her car in the middle of the road and was approached by an ICE officer who told her to “get the fuck out of the car.”
She then backed up before going forward in her SUV, and that’s when an officer near the front left of the car took out his pistol and shot her multiple times at essentially point blank range.
The car then went a short distance before crashing into another parked vehicle.
Afterwards people started to scream things like:
“YOU ALL ARE FUCKING CRIMINALS! You’re fucking criminals.” @0:31
“MURDERERS! MURDERERS!” @2:55
Authorities moved to call 911 and the victim was pronounced dead.
We know little about them as of right now, other than she was a US citizen.
Since the death, more protesters have started to confront ICE agents and local officers on the scene, leading to tear gas being fired into the crowd.
And eventually there was a sizable police force there, although ICE and federal agents have since left.
And the reactions have been intense.
The administration has already justified the officer’s actions, with Secretary of Homeland security Kristi Noem saying at a conference:
"This goes to show the assaults that our ICE, law enforcememt officers are under every single day. These vehicle rammings are domestic acts of terrorism. We’re working with the Department of Justice to charge them as such.” 0:39-0:54
(Not surprising they’re going with this argument, as there is precedent for defending officers who use deadly force when a car is heading towards them even at slower speeds. But context matters and the courts will suss that out).
But on the other side were a lot of people demanding some form of justice.
Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez said that: [read]
"The ICE agent that shot somebody should be arrested effective immediately."
He went on to add that there needs to be community patrols to warn people about ICE raids and prevent “kidnappings.”
Local prosecutors are also “pushing hard for a local investigation which is the only way to ensure full transparency and review."
Minneapolis police officers also apparently saw this coming, with the chief of police Brian O’Hara saying yesterday: [read incase I can’t find video]
"I've been concerned for weeks that because the issue is so emotional, because, frankly, some of the way this stuff has been carried out, the greatest risk to me is that there would be unrest or that there would be a tragedy.”
"That somebody could get seriously hurt or killed because of what's happening."
And finally the city’s mayor is demanding that ICE leave immediately, although he doesn’t have much power to actually enforce that. []
This incident is similar to one that happened in Chicago where two people were arrested for “boxing” ICE in with their cars.
One person, Marimar Martinez, was accused of ramming her car into an ICE vehicle before getting shot multiple times.
She still managed to drive away before being seen by paramedics with relatively minor injuries.
Regardless, she and the other person were charged with assaults on federal employees… but just six weeks later the charges were dropped.
(It seems the government decided to drop the charges rather than release the text messages of agents at the scene because they showed how excited they were to shoot people).[][]
Either way, it’s unclear what would’ve happened here in Minneapolis.
But one thing is clear: it’s not going to reduce the tensions many people have with ICE raids.
People against them will likely see this as murder, and the Trump administration is going to continue calling it an “act of domestic terrorism.”
Calling it that seems like a stretch, but the administration has no problem stretching the truth out for propaganda wins.
Take yesterday, the fifth anniversary of January 6th.
Ends up…Everything you think you know about January 6 is a lie.
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Everything you think you know about January 6 is a lie.
All those brave folks who entered the Capitol that day were “peaceful patriotic protesters” just exercising their First Amendment rights, but Democrats masterfully twisted reality to brand them as “insurrectionists.” [B roll, 00:13]
This even though the Democrats themselves are the real insurrectionists for certifying a fraudulent election! [Same B roll]
That, in a nutshell, is how the Trump administration spun one of the worst assaults on American democracy during the event’s fifth anniversary.
With it publishing an insane revisionist history on the official Whitehouse.gov website yesterday, and the reactions to it since then have been just as crazy. [Webpage]
So we’re gonna dig into it and debunk all the bullshit, starting with Trump’s speech that afternoon at the Ellipse. [B roll]
Because the White House claims that he was blameless for what happened afterward, arguing that he emphasized the need to protest peacefully. [Same B roll andQuote, find “he stresses”]
[Clip, 01:26 - 01:35] Caption: “I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”
But that was just one moment in the middle of an hour-long speech, a three-hour-long event if you count all the other speakers. [Continue B roll]
And as many point out, if you listen to the totality of it, the tone is anything but peaceful.
[Clip, 01:46 - 01:51;Clip, 03:46:26 - 03:46:31;Clip, 00:07 - 00:10, 00:17 - 00:20, 00:34 - 00:42] Caption: “Our country has been under siege for a long time. … We fight like hell, and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not gonna have a country anymore. … We’re gonna walk down, and I’ll be there with you, … we’re gonna walk down to the Capitol. … Because you’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong.”
Next, the White House claims the so-called “patriots” marched to the Capitol, and that they were “peaceful,” “orderly and spirited.” [Quote]
Adding that it was the police who “deliberately” escalated tensions by “aggressively” firing tear gas, flashbangs and rubber bullets into the otherwise peaceful crowd. [Quote same link, find “deliberately”]
Meanwhile, officers “inexplicably” removed barricades, opened doors, and even waved people inside the building. [Same quote]
Except that’s not true; right, some cops did lead rioters through the flimsy barricades, but that’s because they were hopelessly overwhelmed by an enormous mob and were trying to keep it under control.
In truth, the rioters themselves climbed over walls and fences, toppled barricades, broke down doors and shattered windows. [B roll, 01:32]
And at this point in the White House’s narrative, it’s not even clear which story it wants to tell. [Same B roll]
Right, half the time it’s like, all these patriots did nothing wrong, and then the other half of the time it’s like, actually this was a violent riot, but Democrats provoked it. [B roll, 03:27 - 03:31]
In fact, it suggests that dozens of FBI “assets” inside the crowd urged everyone else to break into the building. [Same B roll andQuote, find “ray epps”]
But as we’ve long known, those “assets” were just informants, not undercover agents, and there’s no evidence anyone actually working for the FBI provoked the riot. [B roll, 00:37 - 00:45, 00:51 - 00:54]
Also, of course the rioters were not peaceful; in fact many of them were armed. [Same B roll]
With reported weapons including guns, pepper spray, tasers, a sword, axes, hatchets, knives, destroyed office furniture, fencing, bike racks, stolen riot shields, baseball bats, hockey sticks, flagpoles, PVC piping, and reinforced knuckle gloves. [Same B roll and Quote, find “PVC”]
And reportedly police suffered cuts, bruises, sprains, concussions, rib fractures, irritated lungs, and one mild heart attack, not to mention mental trauma. [B roll, 00:49 - 00:58]
With one officer getting knocked unconscious, one losing the tip of a finger, many more getting smashed in the head, and others choked, pepper sprayed, and tased. [Same B roll]
So in total, over 140 cops reported injuries, many of them having to go to the hospital.
Yet according to the White House, “Zero law enforcement officers lost their lives.” [Quote]
But that’s simply false; right, one officer suffered two strokes nearly eight hours after being pepper sprayed, then died. [B roll, 03:53 - 04:05]
And four more took their own lives in the days and months after January 6. [Same B roll]
Plus if the rioters got their way, somebody else may have ended up in the gallows erected outside the Capitol.
[Clip, 04:32 - 04:36, 04:46 - 04:54]
Yet the White House didn’t mention any of that; instead it featured memorials to the several so-called “patriots” who died.
Including Ashli Babbitt, whom it claims was shot “without warning” even though she “posed no threat.” [Image and Quote]
With right-wing outlets like the Gateway Pundit and Libs of TikTok now even claiming that the cop who shot her, Michael Byrd, runs an unaccredited daycare out of his home and pocketed 190 million dollars in HHS funds. [Image and Post]
But childcare accreditation is optional where he lives, the 190-million figure is totally nonsense, and Babbitt was at the head of a violent mob crawling into the speaker’s lobby where cops were guarding lawmakers.
Now as for the other narrative pushed by the White House — that the whole riot was the Democrats’ fault — they mostly pin the blame on then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
With them pointing to footage that they claim shows her expressing regret for not accepting Trump’s offer to send national guard troops before the event.. [Quote, find “a rage”]
But Trump didn’t need her permission to send the national guard, and in reality, he was sitting back, watching events unfold on TV from his private dining room.
[Clip, 00:57 - 01:20] Caption: “For over three hours we begged him to send the national guard. He never did it. He took joy in not doing it. It was savoring it. And right now, he was saying on TV today, ‘I wanted to send it, they just wouldn’t do it.’ His own secretary of defense, acting secretary of defense, testified under oath against what the president is saying.”
In fact, Trump resisted pressure from his allies, advisors, lawmakers and even his own daughter to call off the riot for over three hours.
With The Washington Post describing those 187 minutes as follows:
“Twenty-five minutes into Trump’s silence, a news photographer was dragged down a flight of stairs and thrown over a wall. Fifty-two minutes in, a police officer was kicked in the chest and surrounded by a mob. Within the first hour, two rioters died as a result of cardiac events. Sixty-four minutes in, a rioter paraded a Confederate battle flag through the Capitol. Seventy-three minutes in, another police officer was sprayed in the face with chemicals. Seventy-eight minutes in, yet another police officer was assaulted with a flagpole. Eighty-three minutes in, rioters broke into and began looting the House speaker’s office. Ninety-three minutes in, another news photographer was surrounded, pushed down and robbed of a camera. Ninety-four minutes in, a rioter was shot and killed. One hundred two minutes in, rioters stormed the Senate chamber, stealing papers and posing for photographs around the dais. One hundred sixteen minutes in, a fourth police officer was crushed in a doorway and beaten with his own baton.” [Quote and B roll, 01:04 - 01:16]
Meanwhile, the president was reportedly raging to people around him about the vice president. [Quote, find “raged”]
And his tweets only added fuel to the fire, starting with one that blasted Mike Pence for not having “the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution.” [Quote]
Then another tweet telling his supporters to “support” Capitol police and “stay peaceful,” as if they weren’t already violent. [Quote same link]
Next, “asking” everyone at the Capitol to “remain peaceful,” adding “no violence.” [quote same link]
Meanwhile, when GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called him, Trump claimed the rioters were antifa. [Quote, find “Antifa”]
To Which McCarthy was like, uh, no they’re your people, and then Trump reportedly said:
“You know what I see, Kevin? I see people who are more upset about the election than you are. They like Trump more than you do.” [Quote same link]
And finally, after three hours, Trump finally posted this video.
[Clip, 00:03 - 00:20, 00:49 - 00:53, 01:00 - 01:04] Caption: “I know your pain. I know your hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election, and everyone knows it, especially the other side. But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. … So go home. We love you. You’re very special. … I know how you feel, but go home and go home in peace.”
And reportedly, that was the best of at least three takes, because he kept veering off the script his staff had composed for him and repeatedly had to rerecord it to get one that his aides felt was palatable enough to share with the public. [Screenshot, 00:20]
But the White House’s revisionism still isn’t done, because they also called the 2020 election “the greatest election theft in U.S. history.” [Quote]
And in a section titled “Betrayal of the President,” they write:
“Vice President Mike Pence, who had the opportunity to return disputed electoral slates to state legislatures for review and decertification under the United States Constitution, chooses not to exercise that power in an act of cowardice and sabotage. Instead, Pence presides over the certification of contested electors, undermining President Trump's efforts to address documented fraud and ending any chance to correct the election steal.” [Quote same link]
But needless to say, after five years of playing whack-a-mole with these conspiracy theories, there’s still no evidence the 2020 election was stolen.
Nor are there any credible legal experts who believe Mike Pence could’ve given Trump the win, and to this day the former VP stands by his decision. [Lead B roll into clip]
[Clip, 01:18 - 01:32] Caption: “I will always believe, by God’s grace, I did my duty that day to support the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States of America.”
But still, the White House claims that Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other platforms, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Capital One and other major financial institutions, plus the legacy media, all conspired to destroy Donald Trump politically and economically in the years that followed. [Quote, find “Twitter”]
Yet despite “relentless Deep State efforts to imprison, bankrupt, and assassinate him, Trump “emerged triumphant” in November 2024. [Quote same link]
This thanks to “unbreakable resolve, the fierce loyalty of his courageous family, team, and Patriotic Americans, and God’s unmistakable grace.” [Same quote]
So yeah, all of that is the version of history inside the mind of our president, as well as presumably much of his administration and millions of supporters across the country.
And I think we all kind of knew they still believed this shit five years later, but it’s still shocking to see it laid out like this comprehensively, and on an official government website.
So you have people reacting online like: “January 6th is crazy because we all watched it live and they’re still gaslighting us about whether it happened.” [Post]
As well as quoting Orwell’s 1984: “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” [Post]
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And while there is a lot of focus on Trump rewriting history from five years ago,
Some are accusing CBS News of rewriting history as it is happening.
Right, the network has been accused of turning into Trump propaganda for months now, and the concerns only grew louder after last night’s Evening News broadcast.
Because one: in their brief coverage of the anniversary of January 6, they did not mention Trump’s revisionist website.
And two: they ran this segment on Marco Rubio’s role in the Trump administration:
“The many lives and many jobs of Marco Rubio. The son of immigrants and former U.S. Senator, he is now the face of U.S. foreign policy and Trump’s pointman on Venezuela. All in addition to his roles as Secretary of State, interim national security adviser, and acting national archivist and USAID chief. Whatever you think of his politics, you’ve gotta admit, it’s an impressive resume.” (18:50-19:12)
CBS then took a kind of cutesy jokey pivot to show show a series of memes depicting Rubio holding other jobs, likethe governor of Minnesota, the new Shah of Iran, and the Prime Minister of Greenland, before adding:
“Now, back in real life these memes may not add up to much, but for Rubio’s hometown fans, which are many here in Miami, it is a sign of how Florida, once an American punchline, has become a leader on the world stage. Marco Rubio, we salute you. You are the ultimate Florida man.” (19:30-19:48)
And tons of people just feel like that sounded like a state media promo, not a segment worthy of airing on a major news broadcast.
With people claiming that CBS is “pathetically carrying water for the Trump administration,” that even “Fox has more dignity than this.”[][]
Some saying CBS is using its news programs to do corporate bidding, calling this a:
“naked appeal for support from the White House for Paramount's bid for Warner Brothers/Discovery.”[]
And this comes at a crucial point for CBS News in general, right, it has been the focus of tons of controversy lately.
Ever since the Paramount-Skydance merger put David Ellison in charge and Bari Weiss became the head of CBS News, people have viewed it as more of a conservative outlet.
And now, it is revamping Evening News, with Tony Duh-co-pull as the new anchor, and that has been off to a very rocky start.
He only officially started on Monday, but even before then he irked people when he addressed viewers to talk about his goals for the show and said:
“The point is that on too many stories the press missed the story. Because we've taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American. Or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you.” (0:45-1:02)
And people just thought this was troubling, that CBS News should not be dismissing input from experts.[]
And Duh-co-pull actually fought back against these comments on Instagram.
Right, when one person wrote that “I grew up on Cronkite. Too bad CBS has lost its Tiffany shine.”
Duh-co-pull responded by saying:
“What did you love most about him? I can promise you we’ll be more accountable and more transparent than Cronkite or any one else of his era.”
Also before Duh-co-pull’s first show, CBS Evening News released new guidelines and promises to its viewers.
And one of those promises was: “We love America, and we make no apologies for saying so.”][
Adding:
“Our foundational values of liberty, equality, and the rule of law make us the last best hope on Earth…We aim to do our part every night. One way to think about our show is as a daily conversation about where exactly we are as a country and where we are going.”
And this just raised a lot of red flags, with people wondering why a news network was pledging allegiance to its country.
Then, when Duh-co-pull made his official Evening News debut this week, there was a major on-air blunder.
“Alright, to other news, as you just heard from Jill, to other news, Governor Walz! No? We’re going to do Mark Kelly? First day, first day, big problems here. Are we going to Kelly here or we going to go into Jonah Kaplan? [long silent pause]” (0:07-0:25)
And while technically difficulties happen, many just thought this moment underscored the issues happening at CBS News right now.
With Variety even calling it “an Inauspicious Sign of Where CBS News Is Headed.”
And some thinking this is just part of a larger trend, of media and tech and more going far out of their way to be in Trump’s good graces.
Now, of course, not everyone in the world is on the CBS News hate train.
Right, the White House rapid response account posted about last night’s Rubio segment in a positive light.[]
So for some of the MAGA crowd, it is an appealing pivot.
But for critics, that is exactly where the issue lies.
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The U.S. just seized a Russian-registered, Venezuelan-linked oil tanker it’s been pursuing across the Atlantic for the past two weeks.
And while that’s got Putin pissed, possibly undermining efforts to end the war in Ukraine, Trump also hasn’t stopped pissing off this country’s closest allies.
But with all that, the tanker in question? It’s known as the Marinera (Mary-nair-uh).
But when the chase began it was called the Bella-1.
And it is reportedly the only vessel owned by a company based in Turkey – which was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2024.
With US officials accusing the company of moving goods on behalf of the Quds (Koodz) Force – which is an elite wing within Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Though, notably, the vessel is also believed to have transported Venezuelan crude oil in the past.
And with that, U.S. forces attempted to board the ship last month when it was in the Caribbean and believed to be heading toward Venezuela.
With this being an effort to enforce Trump’s “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.
But the crew dramatically changed course, sent out a distress signal, and then went dark.
Turning its broadcast signal two weeks later and thousands of miles away, taking a new name, re-registering as a Russian vessel – whereas before it had been a stateless vessel flying under a false flag.
With one expert explaining that “Once it’s legitimately registered, it gets the protection of the flag” – and adding:
“It’s not retroactive, you can’t say it was stateless two weeks ago so we’re going to say it’s stateless now.” []
And with that, notably, Russia made the unusual move of allowing the tanker to get what has since been described as a temporary permit to sail under the Russian flag without an inspection or other formalities. []
And several other sanctioned tankers have actually re-registered as Russian vessels in recent weeks as well.
In fact, according to the BBC, at least eighteen oil tankers hit by U.S. sanctions have switched to a Russian registry – with many of them also having previously been sailing under a false flag. []
But it’s the Mary-nair-uh that the U.S. has doggedly pursued for two weeks, even though it had never actually picked up any oil from Venezuela…
And even though the Russian government made a formal diplomatic request that the U.S. stop its chase.
And with that, the tanker was believed to have been heading toward a city in northwestern Russia.
And today, as the tanker moved northeast between Iceland and the UK, the Kremlin reportedly dispatched a submarine and other naval vessels to escort the tanker.
But, at the same time, the U.S. and the UK military scrambled aircraft in the area.
And reports quickly emerged that American forces had begun an operation to seize the tanker.
With Russian state media publishing footage reportedly taken from on board the tanker and appearing to show a U.S. Coast Guard ship in the distance (BROLL: 0:03-0:08)
As well as images (1, 2) purporting to show a U.S. helicopter flying near the tanker.
And, sure enough, you soon had the US European Command posting on X that “The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court.”
And going on to say:
“This seizure supports @POTUS Proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels that threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere.”
WIth Defense Pete Secretary also adding:
“The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world.”
And actually, to that point, the Coast Guard has also intercepted another Venezuela-linked tanker today – this one in the Caribbean – although the attention has been on the one registered in Russia
As there had been fears of a potential standoff between the two sides – though in the end there were reportedly no Russian vessels in the vicinity of the tanker during the seizure.
Which doesn’t mean there’s not gonna be any fallout from this.
Right, the Russian transport ministry issued a statement accusing the US of breaking the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, saying:
“...no state has the right to use force against ships properly registered in the jurisdictions of other states.” []
And a senior Russian lawmaker from the country’s ruling party argued the U.S.’s actions equated to an act of outright piracy.
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But America’s actions against that Russian-flagged tanker might lead to more than just strong words by Russian ministries… it might sink any peace deal in Ukraine.
Right now European, Ukrainian, and American negotiators are in Paris trying to work out ANOTHER peace proposal.
The negotiators - which included figures like Jared Kushner so you know Trump is serious -- all worried about the same problem:
How do they deter future Russian aggression?
For that they want to implement multilayered defense guarantees for Ukraine.
This includes providing weapons and training for Ukraine’s troops.
That was probably a given, but the real breakthrough was the promise for a supporting force that would give land, sea, and air support.
No information about how big that force is supposed to be has been released publicly.
The US and allies are also supposed to monitor and verify that ceasefires are being adhered to.
That won’t mean American boots on the ground -- Trump has ruled that out explicitly.
Even Germany was keeping the possibility of boots on the ground open, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz saying:
“Germany will continue to engage politically, financially, and also militarily.”
"This could include, for example, deploying forces for Ukraine on neighboring NATO territory after a ceasefire."
For Ukraine these security guarantees are a MUST HAVE for any peace to the point they won’t even consider a peace deal without them.
Another MUST HAVE for any peace deal is that the US needs to actually be onboard, and so far that seems to be the case.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff wrote on X:
“We have made significant progress on several critical workstreams, including our bilateral security guarantee framework and a prosperity plan.“
“We agree with the Coalition that durable security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are essential to a lasting peace in the Ukraine and we will continue to work together on this effort.” []
Meanwhile, Kushner said:
“This does not mean we will make peace. But peace would not be possible without the progress we made today."
And he might be right that despite major headway on a common agreement being made yesterday, peace still won’t come.
At the end of the day Russia has to agree, and boots on the ground seems to be a line in the sand for them.
So far they haven’t commented on the new peace deal, but the US's actions amount to a direct confrontation with Russia.
You’d expect a massive response, but so far the Russian Foreign Ministry has just called on the US to “ensure humane and dignified treatment” of Russian citizens on board the tanker
There are likely two big reasons for this:
One is that it’s Orthodox Christmas in Russia. [broll 27:44-whatever] [broll 9:58-10:31]
And just like the US and many countries across the world -- things just completely shut down at this time of year.
So it’s entirely possible we see some stronger language and responses in the coming days.
But you can’t look at this without considering that ever since Trump got reelected, Russia has been trying to not confront the US on so many issues.
In some ways it’s clearly worked, as Trump has entertained Russian-demands for peace in Ukraine.
And the biggest payoff might be coming soon after Trump wrote a massive anti-NATO piece on Truth Social.
He bashes members of the alliance and claims that the US props it up before adding:
“RUSSIA AND CHINA HAVE ZERO FEAR OF NATO WITHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND I DOUBT NATO WOULD BE THERE FOR US IF WE REALLY NEEDED THEM.” []
Online people took that to mean Trump was threatening to leave NATO, which was kinda contradicted in that post itself because right after Trump added:
“We will always be there for NATO, even if they won’t be there for us.”
Of course, though he made sure to end it by making it clear that he was behind the US version of America that “Russia and China fear…”
[transition to Jared’s Greenland piece]
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But here’s the thing: whatever Trump’s writing online, the White House is still making threats that following through on would very possibly lead to the end of NATO.
With White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt continuing to insist yesterday and today that acquiring Greenland is a “national security priority” and that the use of military force remains an option.
Now, with that, Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently told lawmakers these threats aren’t serious and are just about pressuring Denmark into selling Greenland.
But that’s not all that reassuring – with experts arguing that the stakes are too high not to take Trump seriously, especially considering what he just did in Venezuela.
And notably, with that, just like the action there doesn’t seem to have really been about drugs, it’s not clear that the interest in Greenland is really about national security.
Right, the autonomous territory of Denmark is strategically located and home to vast untapped mineral resources that much of the world is currently reliant on China for.
But, notably, the U.S. already has a military base on the island, which supports missile warning and missile defence operations.
And, in fact, with some conditions, the agreement that allows the US to operate its base there also allows it “...construct, install, maintain, and operate” military bases across Greenland;
“...house personnel”;
and “...control landings, takeoffs, anchorages, moorings, movements, and operation of ships, aircraft, and waterborne craft.” []
With one researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies saying:
“The U.S. has such a free hand in Greenland that it can pretty much do what it wants.”
“I have a very hard time seeing that the U.S. couldn’t get pretty much everything it wanted…if it just asked nicely.”
Also, notably, when it comes to mineral resources, Greenlanders have said they’re open to doing business.
Not to mention Trump’s recent complaints that the island was “covered” in Russian and Chinese ships just doesn’t match reality.
Right, you’ve had European officials noting that while Russia and China have increased their activity in the region, most of that is elsewhere in the Arctic, with no current uptick in activity near Greenland. []
With the Danish foreign minister saying:
“The image that is being painted of Russian and Chinese ships right inside the Nuuk fjord and massive Chinese investments being made is not correct” – adding:
The situation was “based on a misreading of what is up and what is down.” []
Now, with that, Danish and Greenlandic officials are reportedly hoping to meet with Marco Rubio to push back against Trump’s flawed view of the security situation and ultimately ease tensions.
You’ve also seen several European nations as well as Canada coming out with a joint statement showing their support for Denmark and Greenland – though, notably, avoiding explicit criticism of the U.S.
And there’s been a lot of discussion about what else might actually be done to stop the U.S. from just doing whatever it wants.
But the answer may very well be: not that much.
Right, it’s been said that European countries could reconsider their support for U.S. military bases on their territory – possibly taking steps to limit access or increase costs.
The only problem? NATO and Europe still depend heavily on the US for their own security.
Right, similarly, it’s been said European countries could try to use trade or taxation policies to pressure the U.S – at least in theory.
But, in practice, these actions could also undermine the alliance they’re meant to protect. []
And ultimately, many of the options available to try and prevent the US from taking action that would most likely destroy NATO?
They would at the very least weaken NATO and maybe ultimately bring about its end as well.
And so it’s been argued that there’s a definite pathway toward a nonmilitary U.S. takeover of Greenland.
While if it does come to military action it would very possibly face almost no resistance.
With one Danish politician who asked for anonymity to speak freely telling Politico:
“It could be like five helicopters ... he wouldn't need a lot of troops.”
“There would be nothing they [Greenlanders] could do.” []
With an associate professor of military operations at the Royal Danish Defense College further explaining:
“He could just simply put troops in the country and just say that it's American now” – and adding:
“... the United States military is capable of landing any number of forces on Greenland, either by air or by sea, and then claiming that it's American territory.”[]
And while that may still be unlikely, not long ago, it felt like a complete impossibility.
So we’ll see where we go from here.
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