Republican Senator Tom Cotton Admits He Suggested to Trump U.S. Should Buy Greenland

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas said Wednesday that he broached the topic with the Danish ambassador to the United States several months ago. He also recommended to President Donald Trump that he should try to buy the territory from Denmark.

Those conversations came before Trump ignited an international social-media kerfuffle Tuesday night when he took to Twitter to cancel a planned visit to Denmark because the Danish prime minister rebuffed discussions about a potential Greenland sale.

Cotton said that he probably wouldn't have canceled the trip and that the U.S. should continue exploring purchasing the Danish territory.

Cotton's comments came during an interview with Roby Brock of Talk Business and Politics at a luncheon in Little Rock on Wednesday afternoon.

"Why are we talking about buying Greenland?" Brock asked dryly.

"Obviously, the right decision for this country," Cotton replied. "There's a reason why -- so you're joking -- but I can reveal to you that several months ago I met with the Danish ambassador, and I proposed they sell Greenland to us.

"It's obviously the right decision for the United States, and anyone who can't see that is blinded by Trump derangement."