Trump’s Greenland obsession gets weirder after White House posts AI image featuring an animal that’s never been anywhere near the Arctic

The White House posted an AI-generated image on its official X account showing President Trump walking toward Greenland. The image has sparked attention because it includes a penguin holding an American flag, even though penguins don’t live in the Arctic or anywhere near Greenland.

The AI-created image shows several mistakes. Trump and the penguin both leave identical boot prints in the snow, even though penguins have webbed feet. Penguins only live in the Southern Hemisphere and have never existed in Greenland’s Arctic environment.

According to The Daily Beast, the post came just days after Trump backed away from aggressive statements about acquiring Greenland. He had previously threatened military action to take control of the territory, but stepped back after facing pressure from allies and financial markets.

Trump’s push for Greenland rattled markets and allies

Trump called acquiring Greenland a critical national security issue during the World Economic Forum in Davos. He gave world leaders a direct choice about his plans for the Arctic territory. The timing of these statements caught many international leaders off guard.

“You can say ‘yes,’ and we will be very appreciative,” Trump said at Davos. “Or you can say ‘no,’ and we will remember.” He also stated, “We want a piece of ice for world protection.” The comments worried US allies who warned that talking about territorial acquisition crossed dangerous lines in modern diplomacy.

Europe had approved his trade deal in July, but his Greenland threats changed the relationship. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed concern at Davos about the changing global order. He worried about a world where the strong do what they want and the weak must accept it. Other European leaders shared similar concerns about the aggressive territorial rhetoric.

Markets responded negatively when Trump connected tariff threats to Greenland negotiations. Stock prices dropped, which led Trump to announce progress toward an unspecified deal. The market volatility showed how seriously investors took the geopolitical tensions.

Analysts have named this pattern TACO, which stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out,” because he regularly makes big demands then pulls back when facing economic or diplomatic pressure. Despite walking back on his threats, the damage to international relations has been significant. The AI image posted by the White House suggests the administration hasn’t completely abandoned the Greenland idea, even after the recent diplomatic controversy.