How a billionaire with interests in Greenland encouraged Trump to acquire the territory

[Lonestarblue]

So now we get to the truth about Trump’s obsession with Greenland. As usual, it’s all about the money and rewarding billionaire buddies for donating big bucks to him. Ronald Lauder had invested in Greenland and no doubt wanted a better return on his money. Lauder also suggested that the US explore Ukraine’s minerals. As we all know, Trump makes decisions solely in the interests of his billionaire friends.

“One day during his first term, Donald Trump summoned a top aide to discuss a new idea. “Trump called me down to the Oval Office,” John Bolton, national security adviser in 2018, told the Guardian. “He said a prominent businessman had just suggested the US buy Greenland.”

It was an extraordinary proposal. And it originated from a longtime friend of the president who would go on to acquire business interests in the Danish territory.

The businessman, Bolton learned, was Ronald Lauder. Heir to a makeup fortune – the global cosmetics brand Estée Lauder – he had known Trump, a fellow wealthy New Yorker, for more than 60 years.

Bolton said he discussed the Greenland proposition with Lauder. After the billionaire’s intervention, a White House team began to explore ways to increase US sway in the vast Arctic territory controlled by Denmark.”


https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/15/ronald-lauder-billionaire-donor-donald-trump-ukraine-greenland

[sop]

1. The Guardian reporting is a must read.

We need more of this type of journalism in this country: "The Guardian newspaper is owned by the Scott Trust, a unique British trust established in 1936 to guarantee its long-term financial and editorial independence, ensuring it remains free from commercial or political interference, with all profits reinvested into journalism rather than shareholders. The Trust holds sole ownership of Guardian Media Group (GMG), the parent company, and its primary goal is to support high-quality, liberal journalism for a global audience, appointing editors and overseeing strategic direction."

[dalton99a]

2. Kick

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Lauder

Ronald Steven Lauder (born February 26, 1944) is an American businessman. He is the sole heir to the Estée Lauder cosmetics company, founded by his parents Estée Lauder and Joseph Lauder in 1946,[1][2] following the death of his brother Leonard Lauder in 2025.

According to Forbes, Lauder had a net worth of $4.7 billion as of May 2025 (number 796 on Forbes' list of billionaires).[3] Lauder is a longtime Republican Party donor and supporter of Donald Trump.[4] In 1989, he ran in the Republican primary for mayor of New York City in 1989.

A long-time friend of President Donald Trump, Lauder has been credited with planting the idea of annexing Greenland in Trump's mind.[5]

Lauder was born in New York City to a Jewish family, the son of Estée Lauder and Joseph Lauder, founders of Estée Lauder Companies. He is the younger brother of Leonard Lauder, chairman of the board of the Estée Lauder Companies.

...

[Mr. Sparkle]

3. He really is a dimwitted dipshit

[LaMouffette]

4. Boycott Estee Lauder products NOW! What's the best way to get the word out?

[ChicagoTeamster]

5. Lauder also inspired Trump's Russia visit that precipitated Trump's anti NATO nonsense

https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1322&pid=102592

[ChicagoTeamster]

6. There's more than just Lauder. Other Billionaires who donated to Trump's campaign are pushing for Greenland takeover.

Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel, and others are also behind this:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/martinadilicosa/2026/01/09/these-billionaires-bet-big-on-greenland-after-trump-took-interest/

[Ilsa]

10. Thank you. That makes me

feel better about using some Lauder products.

[Hugin]

7. Ten bucks says...

Lauder is in the Epstein files. Probably one of the “friends” Trump doesn’t want “hurt”.

[Dawson Leery]

11. k/r

[Bev54]

8. I have been writing about this for a few weeks here, but nobody seemed to be

interested because it came from Denmark news.

[Kid Berwyn]

9. Greenland as payback for a greedy tax cheat who supported MAGA

LilSis.org on Ronald Lauder

Clinique; son of Estee Lauder; MoMA trustee; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO policy, supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

https://littlesis.org/person/5617-Ronald_S_Lauder/data

Seeing how Lauder and Trump were pals since their teenage days, I wonder if he was chums with Jeffrey Epstein?