Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul posted on X over the past hour, from 7:16 a.m. to 8:16 a.m. UTC on January 19, 2026, endorsing President Donald Trump's acknowledgment of the Russian threat to Greenland while calling for enhanced deterrence without invasion, according to his post at https://x.com/McFaul/status/2013115272417206295. McFaul stated, "Good idea, Mr. President. Glad to see you are finally acknowledging the Russia threat instead of trying to convince us that Putin is a great guy. But can you please enhance deterrence in Greenland without invading? Our 5th Fleet does that in Bahrain without annexing that country. The 7th Fleet does so in Japan without annexing territory there. Easy day." McFaul was responding to Trump's quoted statement: "NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that 'you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland.' Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!" This exchange follows President Trump's early January 19 letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre demanding U.S. control of Greenland to counter Russia and China, which was forwarded to European ambassadors, according to ABC News reporter Nick Schifrin. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson rejected 'blackmail' over Greenland earlier on January 19 at 6:27 a.m. UTC, stating only Denmark and Greenland decide such matters and the EU will stand firm, per his official X account.
