"This is in our national interest and it needs to be solved," Rubio said. Greenland's prime minister has repeatedly said the island is not for sale.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserts that President Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland and reasserting control over the Panama Canal stems from legitimate national security threats posed by China's growing influence in these strategic areas.

President Donald Trump's interest in buying Greenland is "not a joke," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview on Thursday, adding that acquiring Greenland was in U.S. national interest and needs to be solved.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called President Trump's desire to buy Greenland in the "the national interest" of the U.S. during an interview Thursday. The big picture: Trump has doubled down on his push for Greenland since winning the presidential election,

US President Donald Trump is seriously considering the purchase of Greenland, which is currently part of Denmark, calling it a priority, stated US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an interview with journalist Megyn Kelly.