Trump jokes about annexing Canada, Greenland, Venezuela at elite club dinner

President Donald Trump made awkward jokes about annexing Canada, Greenland and Venezuela during a speech at an exclusive Washington club, according to The Washington Post.

Speaking at the Alfalfa Club's black-tie banquet on Saturday, Trump reportedly said: "We're not going to take Greenland. We're going to buy it. I never meant to make Greenland the 51st state. I want to make Canada the 51st state. Greenland will be 52. Venezuela could be 53."

He also joked about needing to cut his speech short to "review the invasion of Greenland," before clarifying it was humor. Attendees included political and corporate elites critical of Trump, and the crowd fell into awkward silence at several moments, the report noted.

On February 1, Trump announced the US had begun negotiations with Denmark over Greenland, claiming both sides were close to a deal. On January 29, Bloomberg reported officials from the US, Denmark and Greenland had met to discuss a new framework agreement addressing Washington's Arctic security interests. A Danish embassy spokesman said the talks focus on meeting US security needs without crossing Copenhagen's "red lines," likely expanding America's military presence without transferring sovereignty.

Reuters reported on January 26 that Trump's administration had decided to drop plans for a military invasion of Greenland, fearing it could trigger impeachment proceedings.