People protest against US' push for taking over Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 17, 2026. Photo: VCG

US President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself placing the US flag on the territory of Greenland on Tuesday on his social media platform Truth Social, and another AI- generated image of him meeting European leaders with a map showing Greenland under the American flag. The posts sparked fierce online backlash, with some lamenting the world has entered a "new colonial era" where the "rules-based order is over."

In the first image posted by the US President, Trump is accompanied by US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with a sign nearby reading "GREENLAND - US TERRITORY EST. 2026." The official X account of the White House reposted the image later on Tuesday.

On the same day, Trump released another image: He met with European leaders in the Oval Office, with a map displayed behind him showing the United States, Canada, Greenland, and Venezuela under the American flag.

Regarding Trump's latest claims conveyed in his posts, one netizen wrote on X, "The timing and the official nature of this post are significant. It's not a late-night rant; it's a midday declaration from the presidential account. This moves the claim from the realm of provocative speculation to an official, persistent assertion of policy," the comment read, adding that it is "a deliberate effort to cement the idea in the global consciousness as a stated goal of the United States government."

"Be ready for a bumpy ride," another netizen said, while others "welcomed" the "new colonial era" where "rule-based order is over."  

Some others commented that the question regarding taking over Greenland isn't "troll or intent," but a deliberate strategy of the US that blurs the line, making the intent itself a form of psychological warfare.

Trump's latest threats on taking the island has prompted sharp rebuke from European leaders, as EU chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed Europe's response will be "unflinching, united and proportional," BBC reported. According to one of Trump's posts, a message from French President Emmanuel Macron read: "I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland," which a source close to Macron confirmed is authentic, CNN reported.

In response, Canada has announced plans to increase its presence in the Arctic, with Foreign Minister Anita Anand citing the need to ensure the country is "bolstering our Arctic presence" in light of Trump's threats to annex Greenland. As part of this effort, Canada will open a consulate in the semi-autonomous Danish territory next month, media reported on Tuesday.

Per Canadian outlet the Globe and Mail, the Canadian Armed Forces have modelled a hypothetical US military invasion of Canada and the country's potential response, which includes tactics similar to those employed against Russia and later US-led forces in Afghanistan, two senior government officials say.

Global Times