American pensioner offers Greenlanders $200,000 each to support US annexation

An 86-year-old American man has caused uproar in Nuuk after approaching locals with a proposal to join the United States in exchange for financial compensation, reports Danish broadcaster DR.

Cliff Stanley, a retired pensioner from Nevada, has spent two days in Greenland’s capital attempting to persuade residents to sign documents supporting the idea of Greenland becoming a US state. In return, he claims, each signer would receive $200,000 from the American government.

Stanley, who lives on a monthly disposable income of around 7,000 Danish kroner ($980), told DR he was acting independently. “I want to do my best to help the Greenlandic people,” he said. “Trump says he wants to strengthen North America for the free world. I’m trying to support my country and my president as a good citizen.”

His initiative follows former US President Donald Trump’s 2019 suggestion that the US should purchase Greenland—a remark Stanley distanced himself from. “Honestly, what Trump said was way off. But that doesn’t mean all Americans are bad people,” he said.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen responded to the controversy by reiterating the territory’s longstanding position: “Greenland is not for sale.” Social media reactions have ranged from anger to mockery, with many locals telling Stanley to leave.

Undeterred, Stanley plans to stay in Nuuk until May 19, when US envoy Jeff Landry—unconnected to Stanley’s visit—is scheduled to arrive. If Greenlanders reject his proposal, Stanley said he would simply “go to Canada and see if they’re interested.”

So far, only three people have reportedly signed his documents. Stanley insists his goal is to present any expressions of interest to the US Congress, claiming Washington would commit $12 billion to Greenland’s population if they agreed to join the US.