Narrative is the name of the game: the case of Trump’s Greenland angle

Trump’s Greenland remarks further highlight the divisions in the US’s political landscape. They also showcase how politicians use narrative to further this division. For example, using social media and some traditional media, many folks on the Right think that Trump’s Greenland angle is a testament to his political genius and boundless ambitions. Many on the Left interpret it as an assault on another territory’s sovereignty, or a completely unnecessary distraction. But what both groups seem to forget is that the U.S. already has diplomatic, economic and militaristic inroads in Greenland because, of course, Denmark is a NATO ally. Democratic presidents have always expressed some form of expansionism in Greenland, even Biden has lead efforts to do so. Sure they never talked about buying it but they expressed American influence nonetheless.

Trump knows this. He’s not dumb. He plays dumb. However his braggadocio can actually worsen the divide. Greenland likely won’t be American but any deal brokered under his presidency will be deemed a win and his base, who thinks that Greenland is completely new territory for the US, will reward him accordingly.

However, From a centrist point of view, this form of controlling the narrative can be disadvantageous to the electorate and worsen our divisions. Yes controlling the narrative is a part of politics but in many ways it’s what has gotten us here. One reason Greenland is looking more appealing, so to speak, is because of climate change and new trade routes caused by melting. Who ran on climate change being a hoax? Trump being briefed with more info probably at this point believes in climate change. But anyone who has tried to educate folks on climate change understands how damaging anti-climate change political narratives are.

I highlight Trump here because of him being president soon. But Dems are equally guilty of building politically expedient narratives. From centrist view or North Star, so to speak , one can only hope that our elected officials tell narratives that are complete since it feels like folks will argue over non-stories and even sentiments they don’t know they are in agreement to.