Donald Trump on Military and Defense

Donald Trump

Role at the time: President of the United States, in a post on his Truth Social account

Statement summary

Trump says large-scale oil, gas and mineral exploration is about to begin in what he calls 'our new and beautiful Greenland' and describes the island as unmatched for U.S. and European security.

“Massive Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration is getting ready to begin in our new and beautiful Greenland! There are Experts that are saying that the amount of easily available Oil is far greater than that of almost any land, anywhere in the World and, even more importantly, from a Security Purpose in the Defense and Offense of both the United States of America, and Europe, is second to none.”

Donald Trump

Role at the time: President of the United States, speaking at a campaign rally in Syracuse, New York

Statement summary

At a campaign rally in Syracuse, New York, on the evening of October 9, 2026, Trump listed Greenland among his accomplishments, saying he had created a soon-to-be very prosperous Arctic and had also got Greenland. He said people had said he would never get it, and that the United States paid zero for it.

“And on top of it all, I have created a soon-to-be very prosperous Arctic. And I also, by the way, got Greenland. I hope you're happy about that. ... You know what we paid, right? Zero.”

Donald Trump

Role at the time: President of the United States, addressing the U.N. General Assembly

Statement summary

Trump told the U.N. General Assembly that cartels are "enemies at war with civilization" who "should be killed, exiled, or detained as enemy combatants" and that the United States "has carried out dozens of strikes on cartel drug boats".

“The cartels are the ISIS of the Western Hemisphere, not good people. They're enemies at war with civilization, using murder, rape, torture, and extortion as instruments of terror. … they should be killed, exiled, or detained as enemy combatants without the possibility of release, which is what we're doing. To that end, the United States has carried out dozens of strikes on cartel drug boats, destroying 97% of the drugs coming into the ocean and sea.”

Donald Trump

Role at the time: President of the United States, in a post on his Truth Social account, cross-posted to his X account

Statement summary

In a Truth Social post announcing an agreement with Denmark and Greenland, President Donald Trump said it gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, at no cost to the United States. He wrote that the United States will forever have the complete ability to do what is necessary there to secure and defend Greenland and the United States. The text of the agreement has not been published, so this record documents his description of it, not its provisions.

“I am pleased to announce that the United States of America has entered into an Agreement with The Kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland, that gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns. There will be NO COST to the United States! At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America.”

Donald Trump

Role at the time: President of the United States, answering reporters in the Oval Office

Response to this claim

Vice President JD Vance said he would not call the U.S. fight with Iran a war, saying there is no active shooting right now and that major combat operations lasted about six weeks.

“Well, I'll tell you what, a lot of people don't call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it's small potatoes for us. It's not a big thing. ... So I can understand what he's saying. It's a military conflict, but it's very intermittent. I could see somebody not calling it a war.”

Donald Trump

Role at the time: President of the United States

Statement summary

Trump says his administration did not order the restrictions and that, as he understood it, service was not slowed. Asked about Musk, he says neither he nor Musk was responsible.

“I didn't do that. No, we didn't do that at all. In fact, I don't even think it was slowed down from what I understood. Because I just checked this morning”

Donald Trump

Role at the time: President of the United States

Statement summary

Trump rules out streaming while saying it might have been a strong deterrent. He says many well-meaning people would rather not watch.

“I think streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan but, many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device. He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed.”

Donald Trump

Role at the time: President of the United States, in remarks posted on video by the White House's Rapid Response 47 account

Statement summary

President Trump said there are two views on whether to show Hasan's execution, said showing it might deter others, and said he would make the decision, adding that he knew what the military would like to do.

“There are two thoughts. Don't show it and show it. Because, you know, by showing it, maybe other people won't be doing what he did. So I'll make a decision, ultimately. I know what the military would like to do, but we'll make a decision.”