Dan Bongino argued that President Donald Trump’s approach to Greenland offers a clear example of the negotiating strategy Trump has described for decades: begin with an expansive demand, create leverage and ultimately secure the strategic objective that mattered most.

Bongino said Trump’s earlier talk about acquiring Greenland should not necessarily be viewed as the final objective. Instead, he described it as an opening position designed to move the boundaries of what could eventually be negotiated.

“Here is the Donald Trump negotiating tactic. How do I know this? Because if you just read the book The Art of the Deal from Trump, who's been doing deals his entire life in real estate and elsewhere. He talks about it all the time,” Bongino said.

“You got your pens, libs? Stake out a maximalist position. I want Greenland. We're going to take it over. That's not his real position. It's almost never his real position.”

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Bongino said the more realistic goal was establishing a larger and lasting American security footprint while keeping Greenland and Denmark involved in the arrangement.

“His real position is probably 50% of that: I would like a bigger footprint in Greenland with the cooperation of people in Greenland and Denmark, as well,” Bongino said.

That interpretation comes as the United States, Denmark and Greenland move to formalize a new security agreement expanding the American military presence on the Arctic island.

Reuters reported September 22 that the agreement calls for two additional U.S. military sites, at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, alongside the existing Pituffik Space Base. Denmark and Greenland maintain that sovereignty over Greenland is unchanged.

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Bongino then cited commentary from David Brody to explain what he viewed as the mechanics behind the negotiation.

“Here's David Brody explaining it: The Greenland deal is classic Trump 101. Start with a wild ask, we should own Greenland. Start out there to reset the window on what's negotiable and what's not. Get everybody freaking out, which the media always does, and then negotiate towards what you really want.”

Bongino said the desired outcome was straightforward.

“And what did he want? This is more of his Tweet, a bigger, permanent U.S. security footprint in Greenland and a way to keep China and Russia out. Done. That's the deal.”

Trump has characterized the agreement as providing the United States with permanent control over Greenland’s security and barring American adversaries from establishing military bases or making certain sensitive investments without U.S. approval.

Danish officials have presented the agreement differently, emphasizing that Greenland’s sovereignty and self-determination remain intact and that Arctic security will remain tied to NATO.

The full legal implications of the agreement remain unclear because its final text had not yet been publicly released as of September 22.

Reuters reported that the agreement was scheduled to be finalized during meetings surrounding the United Nations General Assembly.

Bongino nevertheless argued that the progression from Trump publicly discussing ownership of Greenland to obtaining an expanded security arrangement fits the negotiating philosophy he has long associated with the president.

“He notes you can hate the style, but this is how Trump deals: Start huge, create leverage, then land the part you actually came for,” Bongino said.

The Arctic has become increasingly important to U.S. security planning as Washington watches expanding Russian and Chinese activity in the region.

The U.S. Coast Guard said this week that it continues monitoring Chinese research vessels operating near Alaska and other Arctic areas, amid concerns about possible strategic and military applications of their activities.

Bongino also took aim at news organizations that treated Trump’s earlier Greenland rhetoric as evidence that he primarily wanted to purchase or annex the territory.

“Here's the book, liberals. Please read it. Do we have to buy complimentary copies for everyone?” Bongino said.

He then offered to send copies of Trump’s book to journalists.

“I'll do that, guys, just so you know. If you are from the New York Times, Washington Post, and let's throw Reuters in there, if you are a legitimate reporter and you want us to buy you a copy of The Art of the Deal, spread this on the web. We will buy you a copy and send it to you. Is that okay?”

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