Donald Trump’s most controversial statements on Greenland, Panama, tariffs, wildfires and beyond

Love him or hate him, President-elect Donald Trump is the opposite of a wallflower.

To his detractors he is the ultimate Troll-in-Chief, due to his uncanny skill at provoking outrage and anger online. Supporters enjoy having a shock jock on the world stage.

Well-known for his love of grandiose and outlandish, sometimes rambling, commentary, it seems Mr Trump is happy to weigh in on almost any issue.

Here are some of the six most controversial comments he’s made since the 2024 election.

Taking the Panama Canal by force

Earlier this month he suggested military force could be used to seize the Panama Canal and Greenland, declaring control of both territories was critical to America’s national security.

“I’m not going to commit to that,” he told the press conference at his Florida Mar-a-Lago home, when asked he’d rule out military intervention.

“No, I can’t assure you on either of those two. But I can say this, we need them for economic security.”

He also refused to rule out whether troops would be used to take them at a press conference where he said his administration would rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America”.

“Look, the Panama Canal is vital to our country. It’s being operated by China. And we gave the Panama canal to Panama.”

The comments came hours after Mr Trump posted a picture of an American flag flying over the Panama Canal with the caption: “Welcome to the United States Canal!”

While it’s the first time he’s talked about using force, it’s far from the first Mr Trump has expressed designs on acquiring the territory.

In December he said Panama Canal charged “exorbitant prices and rates of passage” on US naval and merchant ships, and demanded fees be lowered or the canal returned to the US.

“The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the US,” Mr Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

“If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question.

“To the officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly!”

Proposing to buy Greenland (again)

January’s rambling press conference occurred while his eldest son, Donald Jr, was in Greenland for a private visit, increasing speculation the US would try to take control.

Donald Jr landed in a plane emblazoned with the word TRUMP and handed out Make America Great Again caps to locals.

It was touted as a trip to encourage frank conversation with locals about the issues facing the country, but The Economist reported those in attendance were actually homeless people lured by the promise of MAGA merch and a hot meal.

Bizarrely, it’s not the first time Mr Trump has revealed an interest in Greenland.

During his first presidency in 2019 it was revealed he’d directed advisors and lawyers to review a possible deal.

“Greenland isn’t for sale. Greenland isn’t Danish, Greenland is Greenlandic,” Denmark’s then-Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in response to the reports. “I keep trying to hope this wasn’t something that was seriously meant”.

Mr Trump subsequently postponed a meeting with it’s then-Prime Minister because talk about the sale of the country was off the table.

“Denmark is a very special country with incredible people, but based on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s comments, that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks,” he tweeted at the time.

“The Prime Minister was able to save a great deal of expense and effort for both the United States and Denmark by being so direct.”

Claiming Canada as the 51st State

Mr Trump’s triumphant rise back to the White House has triggered the downfall of the once-popular Justin Trudeau.

The Canadian Prime Minister had been facing pressure from opponents and allies alike, concerned over Mr Trump’s plans to impose steep tariffs on goods which would hammer the country’s economy.

Mr Trudeau’s resignation came after his deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland quit cabinet, accusing him of being more focused on “costly political gimmicks” than the existential threat posed by the incoming Trump administration.

It was a scalp Mr Trump was willing to claim, taking to social media to post that many Canadians would love to be the “51st State”.

“The United States can no longer suffer the massive trade deficits and subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat,” he said.

“Justin Trudeau knew this and resigned.”

Tariffs aimed at Canada and Mexico

Again taking to Truth Social Mr Trump threatened a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from Mexico and Canada, along with a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese goods.

He blamed “illegal aliens” for bringing drug problems to the US, saying tariffs would remain until the situation was solved.

“Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long-simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price,” he said.

Mr Trump said the China tariff would help stop the “massive amounts of drugs, in particular fentanyl” being imported into the US.

“Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before,” he said.

“Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10 per cent tariff, above any additional tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America.”

Wildfires blamed on a man – and a fish

Mr Trump has laid the blame for the deadly California wildfires that have so far killed five people and destroyed over 1100 structures at the feet of one man, and a fish.

Speaking out on Truth Social Mr Trump accused California Governor Gavin Newsom of failing to pump water from California’s north to the much drier south, which Mr Trump says created “a true disaster” to protect the small delta smelt fish.

“Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow from the north, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,” Mr Trump posted on the social media platform.

“He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California.

“Now the ultimate price is being paid.

“I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA!

“He is the blame for this.

“On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, (or) firefighting planes. A true disaster!”

‘Jokingly’ referring to a third term

Mr Trump has mused on more than one occasion that he’d like to stay on longer in the White House, hinting at changes to the term limits.

“I suspect I won’t be running again, unless you say, ‘He’s so good, we have to just figure it out,’” he reportedly told colleagues ahead of congressional leadership elections in November.

His Republican colleagues later said that he was only joking.

A Trump 2028 presidency seems unlikely as the US Constitution says Presidents can only serve two full terms.