Denmark prime minister praises people of Greenland amid pressure from Trump

It’s an island that from a defensive posture, and even offensive posture, is something we need, especially with the world the way it is, and we’re going to have to have it,

the president said during an interview with conservative talk show host, Vince Coglianese

Modern-day weapons — when you look at ships going up their shore by the — you know, by the hundreds. It’s a busy place, and it’s really something we have,

Trump said

I don’t know. I don’t think they’re un-eager, but I think that we have to do it, and we have to convince them,

he said

The attention is overwhelming and the pressure is great, but it is in times like these that you show what you are made of,

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen wrote in a Facebook post addressing the people of Greenland

We need Greenland for national security and international security. So, we'll, I think we'll go as far as we have to go. We need Greenland and the world needs us to have Greenland, including Denmark,

Trump told journalists in the Oval Office

You have not been cowed. You have stood up for who you are – and you have shown what you stand for. That has my deepest respect,

she said

These very powerful statements about a close ally do not suit the U.S. president,

he told reporters in Copenhagen on Thursday

I need to clearly speak out against what I see as an escalation from the American side,

he said