Nichols says the deal is “in fact, not a big deal” and “no different from the situation we've always had”
Tom NicholsNational-security writer and former Naval War College professor, on social media
Responding on social media to Hugh Hewitt's post calling the agreement a "very big deal," Tom Nichols wrote, "This is, in fact, not a big deal," adding that it is "no different from the situation we've always had, except our allies now think we're led by a lunatic."
“This is, in fact, not a big deal. no different from the situation we've always had, except our allies now think we're led by a lunatic.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Trump’s “permanent control” description of the announced U.S.-Denmark-Greenland security agreement
On September 18, 2026, President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that he said gives the United States “permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland.” Danish and Greenlandic officials initially described an expected agreement and emphasized sovereignty and self-determination. On September 22, the White House published an agreement text dated that day. It reaffirms Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenland’s right to self-determination; provides for U.S. defense areas and access under stated procedures; bars non-NATO states from establishing military installations unless the parties agree otherwise; and has no end date. The text says it enters into force only after diplomatic notice of necessary parliamentary procedures. The dispute remains over how Trump’s “permanent control” description compares with the document’s terms.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
The Independent's report on reaction to Trump's announced Greenland agreement. It directly quotes conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt calling the deal 'a very big deal,' and Tom Nichols, described as a former Naval War College professor and Atlantic staff writer, responding to Hewitt's post. Neither post's own X status URL was given in the article or independently located; the quotations rely on this single outlet's direct quotation.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Nichols was responding directly to Hewitt's post.
After the quotation
The Independent reports that critics have argued the deal does not appear to differ much from arrangements in place since the 1951 Defense of Greenland Agreement.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to Trump's "permanent control" description of the announced U.S.-Denmark-Greenland security agreement, Nichols disputes that the agreement represents a significant change from the pre-existing arrangement, directly rejecting Hewitt's and Trump's characterization of it as a major breakthrough, without condemning the agreement's substance itself.
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Read the full caseTrump says the United States has Greenland now on an unlimited basis
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Scott Horton says Trump announces at rallies an intention to violate the Greenland agreement
“Trump talks about how he "got Greenland" at every rally now, and people in Greenland, Denmark and around the world take note of how he signed agreements and then announced in campaign rallies his intention to violate them. This is not a joke.”Read statement
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- Nichols says the deal is “in fact, not a big deal” and “no different from the situation we've always had”
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The Dispute Index. "Nichols says the deal is “in fact, not a big deal” and “no different from the situation we've always had”". First published: 2026-09-22. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1431-responding-on-social-media-to-hugh-hewitt-s