A recent survey conducted by Yahoo News and YouGov has shed light on American sentiments regarding the possibility of the U.S. annexing Canada and the semiautonomous island of Greenland. According to the poll, less than one in five Americans, specifically 17 percent, support the idea of Canada becoming the U.S.’s 51st state. This proposal has been mentioned by former President Trump several times since he assumed office again after winning the 2024 presidential election.
The survey results indicate that a significant majority of respondents, 57 percent, oppose the potential expansion of U.S. territory to include Canada. Additionally, 26 percent of those surveyed expressed uncertainty about this proposal. The sentiment is similar when it comes to the annexation of Greenland, a goal that Trump has discussed both during his first term and in recent months. Approximately 19 percent of Americans favor the idea of the U.S. taking over Greenland, an island rich in minerals and currently overseen by Denmark in terms of foreign policy and defense.
In contrast, nearly half of the participants, 49 percent, opposed the annexation of Greenland, while another 32 percent were unsure, indicating a divided opinion on this foreign policy issue.
In a related development, Vice President Vance announced that he will travel to Greenland this Friday. This decision follows concerns from officials in Denmark and Greenland, who viewed the visit of his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, as a provocative gesture linked to Trump’s ambitions regarding the Arctic island. “There was so much excitement around Usha’s visit to Greenland this Friday, that I decided that I didn’t want her to have all that fun by herself, and so I’m going to join her,” Vance stated on Tuesday.
Usha Vance is expected to travel alongside other U.S. officials as part of a Washington delegation. Greenland's Prime Minister, Múte Bourup Egede, described the visit as part of a “very aggressive” pressure campaign against Greenlandic society.
The survey also explored public opinion regarding President Trump’s focus during the initial months of his second term. Respondents were nearly split on whether Trump has prioritized the country’s most pressing issues. About 43 percent believe he has focused on the “most important problems,” while 45 percent feel he has concentrated on matters that “aren’t very important.” An additional 12 percent were unsure about his priorities.
This comprehensive poll was conducted from March 20-24 among 1,677 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of 2.7 percent, providing insight into the current American political landscape and attitudes towards potential territorial changes.
