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With the Trump administration repeatedly highlighting its intention to acquire Greenland, questions about a proposed libertarian‑style “freedom city” have resurfaced.
Newsweek has reached out to Peter Thiel via Palantir, Marc Andreessen via Meta, and Praxis via email for comment on Monday.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland either through purchase or occupation during a meeting at the White House on Friday where he said the Arctic island was critical for U.S. security given the threats posed by Russia and China.
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However, Greenland is officially part of NATO-member Denmark’s territory and has wide-ranging autonomy with its own extensive local government.
A survey conducted last year by pollster Veria found 85 percent of Greenlanders rejected being part of the U.S. while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said a U.S. military invasion would spell the end of NATO, which both countries are part of.
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What To Know
In April, Reuters reported that some Silicon Valley tech investors had been advocating for the idea of a "freedom city" in Greenland, which the outlet described as “a libertarian utopia with minimal corporate regulation,” citing three individuals familiar with the matter.
According to the report, the vision for the island would include an artificial intelligence (AI) hub, autonomous vehicles, space launch operations, micro nuclear reactors, and a high‑speed rail network.
Two sources the outlet spoke two reportedly said PayPal co-founder Peter Theil and entrepreneur Marc Andreessen have been supportive of such an outpost on the island, though it added at the time that it was unclear whether either were actively lobbying the government.
“Peter isn’t involved in any plans or discussions regarding Greenland," a Theil spokesperson said, per Reuters.
New Scientist reported last week that Praxis—a company that was aiming to construct such a city— has raised hundreds of millions in seed funding and that its co‑founder, Dryden Brown, went to Greenland in 2023 in an attempt to negotiate a purchase of the territory.
On X, Brown wrote in 2024 that he wanted to create an early model of Terminus—the name Elon Musk has suggested for a future city on Mars. Forbes mentioned in a Friday report that Thiel helped fund the startup in 2021.
"We must build a prototype of Terminus on Earth before departing for Mars. I believe Greenland is the place," Brown posted.
Newsweek previously reported that a coalition of groups opposing regulation had called for “freedom cities” to be created throughout the U.S.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump recently told reporters: "If we don't take Greenland, Russia or China will take Greenland, and I am not going to let that happen...If we don't do it the easy way, we're going to do it the hard way."
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said earlier this month: "Our country isn't something you can deny or take over because you want to."
Anne Merrild, a professor of sustainability and planning at Aalborg University in Denmark said, according to New Scientist: “Greenland is not an empty space waiting to be experimented on. It has communities, democratic institutions and a strong sense of self-determination. Any proposals such as network cities or freedom cities would have to align with Greenland law, values and long-term social goals, and so far these ideas seem disconnected from reality.”
What Happens Next
The administration is expected to hold talks with Danish officials on Wednesday to address issues related to Greenland.
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