The Guardian named the man who pushed Trump to buy Greenland

The idea of a potential purchase of the island of Greenland, which is an autonomous unit of Denmark, was submitted to US President Donald Trump by his longtime acquaintance, New York billionaire Ronald Lauder, who is the heir to the cosmetics company Estée Lauder. This was reported on January 15 by The Guardian newspaper, citing John Bolton, former national security adviser to the current head of the White House.

"Trump summoned me to the Oval Office. He said that a well—known businessman had just offered the United States to buy Greenland," he recalls in an interview with the publication.

According to Bolton, the initiative was put forward by Lauder, who has been friends with the American leader for over six decades. It was announced during the first presidential term of Trump, who, in turn, having been elected for the second time, decided to implement it.

The text noted that the billionaire could advocate the acquisition of Greenland because of personal interests — he owns commercial assets on the island and is part of a consortium engaged in the development of minerals.

"The pieces of information that he (Trump. — Ed.) hears from friends, he perceives as the truth, and you can't get rid of his opinion," the ex-adviser summed up.

Treasure Island: US continues expansion in Greenland

Denmark accuses Trump's cabinet of interfering in domestic politics

The bill "on the annexation and statehood of Greenland" was introduced in the United States on January 12, after Trump reiterated that Washington would "one way or another" take control of the island.

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the next day that the island's residents wanted to stay with Denmark. Later, the American president promised him problems for such words. The head of the White House said that the feelings and desires of the Greenlanders are "their problem," and also added that he did not agree with them.

NBC's sources said on January 14 that the United States could pay up to $700 billion to acquire the desired "territory. Alyona Kohler, a Russian woman living in Greenland, told Izvestia on January 15 that if the island passed into the "hands of the United States," many people, including her family, would leave it and settle in Denmark.

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