Trump's Greenland Deal, Press Bans, and Medicare for All

Drew Mariani (0:00)

The issues that matter most, right here.

SPEAKER_2 (0:03)

The Drew Mariani Show.

SPEAKER_3 (0:05)

On Relevant Radio.

SPEAKER_2 (0:09)

President Trump announcing a deal that he says gives the US permanent control over security in Greenland.

SPEAKER_3 (0:15)

President Trump says this agreement gives the US the ability to secure Greenland by whatever means necessary forever. Now he writes on social media that the US will immediately develop a large military presence in Greenland. But it's not clear what exactly is different with this new agreement. The US already has a small military presence at a space force base there in Greenland. Now Greenland is a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark. They have welcomed the US military amid concerns that Russia and China were expanding their presence in the Arctic. President Trump says this agreement means that no adversary can ever have a military base there without US approval.

Jeff Gardner (0:53)

It's The Drew Mariani Show on Relevant Radio.

Drew Mariani (0:59)

Yeah, that was NBC News on President Trump's new green deal with Greenland. I love that. It's actually a new deal. But I like the play. Nick's smiling at me right now. It's a new green deal, Nick.

You got to like that headline. New deal. Yeah, or green new deal. And the green new deal, that's what he has got going here. Big news. I was wondering how this would shake out. Isn't it funny? You haven't heard a whole lot in the media about it leading up to it.

Joseph Cella (1:25)

And Trump's like, we'll take it over.

Drew Mariani (1:27)

And the world was going crazy. For months, the president talked about Greenland. A lot of people wondering why America, why this president in particular was so fixated on this enormous ice covered island, made sense strategically, right? Now we're getting the answers. The US., Denmark and Greenland, they've reached the new security agreement designed to dramatically strengthen America's military position in the Arctic.

And just so you get perspective on it, it's not just us that benefits. It's Canada benefits and everyone underneath that golden dome that the president is going to create. At the same time, it prevents Russia and China from establishing bases there. The North, we know that new channels, new lanes are opening up. And Russia is already planning flags up there. China, so this is a strategic move. Again, you see what the president is doing down in South America. Now you see what he's doing up on the northern part of the planet. So what did the president get?

And why could Greenland become one of the most strategically important pieces of real estate in the world? We're going to talk about that with Joseph Cella. He was a former ambassador to the, under the Trump administration, believe it or not. He's been a friend of the show for a long time here. And break all this down for you. Plus, there's a lot going on in Ireland, Ireland, in Iran, as you know, and a lot of other places as well. So let me bring Ambassador Cella into the program and into the conversation. You're welcome to join us, too, if you'd like to dial in. 888-914-9149. Hey, Professor, good afternoon. Ambassador, welcome. Good afternoon.

SPEAKER_3 (3:03)

My phones are ringing. All these things go on at once.

Drew Mariani (3:05)

I'm trying to talk and shut off my ringer.

Joseph Cella (3:09)

A lot going on. Happy to be back with you, Drew. It's a delight.

Drew Mariani (3:13)

Thanks so much. Greenland, that fell off the radar for a little bit.

It was the president, some of the things he said, it must be the art of the deal, so outlandish. We'll take it, we'll buy it, we'll do all these things. People were up in arms over it. They didn't like the way it went down. And then there was kind of radio silence for a little bit. And now we have this big news that, of course, the US has this incredible deal where we can put our bases and much more. Fill everyone in on what's going on. It's strategically important. I'm sure China and Russia are not happy about this.

And fill us in on what that all means for those who were listening.

Joseph Cella (3:49)

Yeah, I mean, and to your first question, it's an important one. I mean, as diplomacy often happens, just because it's not on the world stage doesn't mean the conversations behind the scenes stop.

They've been ongoing, and I would say, this is a unique win for the Western Hemisphere against our protection against adversaries, particularly China. And really delighted to see the hard work President Trump put in the fruit borne out with him and Secretary Rubio. And so the Greenland New Deal, I think you put a quip on it, is going to be signed tomorrow in the sidebar at UNGA, known as the United Nations General Assembly, that lasts all week there. So look forward to seeing some of the details, but I think it certainly builds on what was had as a treaty in 1951 between the US., but I think it's certainly markedly better and certainly contemporaneous with the times.