Fact check: Poll finds majority of Greenland respondents support joining the U.S.; will the largest island become American territory?

1. Summary of the results

A recent poll conducted by Patriot Polling NGO (January 6-11, 2025) found that 57.3% of 416 surveyed Greenlanders support joining the United States, with 37.4% opposing and 5.3% undecided ^[1]. However, this finding needs to be contextualized within broader historical data about Greenland's political aspirations.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits crucial context about Greenland's long-standing desire for complete independence, rather than joining another nation:

• A 2016 poll showed 64% support for independence ^[2]
• A 2019 poll indicated 67.8% support for independence within two decades ^[2]
• As recently as February 2024, Greenland officially declared independence as a national goal ^[2]
• A 2018 poll revealed 67.7% support for becoming an independent state, with 43.5% of independence supporters believing it would have positive economic effects ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

Several factors suggest potential bias in both the poll and its timing:

• Timing and Political Context: The poll coincided with Donald Trump Jr.'s visit to Greenland and followed President-elect Trump's statements about Greenland joining the US for national security reasons ^[1]
• Historical Skepticism: In 2019, a similar proposal by Trump to purchase Greenland was dismissed as absurd by both Greenland and Denmark ^[1]
• Methodological Concerns: The poll's small sample size of 416 respondents ^[1] may not be representative of Greenland's entire population
• Competing Interests:
• The Trump administration would benefit from promoting pro-US sentiment in Greenland for strategic purposes
• The Patriot Polling NGO's findings contradict years of documented independence movements and polls
• Local independence movements would benefit from promoting sovereignty rather than US territorial status

The data suggests that while there might be some current support for joining the US, this represents a significant departure from Greenland's historically documented preference for independence.