GOP groups fundraising with T-shirts showing Greenland as part of America

Savannah Behrmann

WASHINGTON -- The National Republican Congressional Committee, which is charged with helping elect and re-elect Republicans in the House, is fundraising with shirts that promote President Donald Trump’s desire to buy Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.

The limited-edition T-shirt features a map of the United States, showing Greenland as of part of the U.S., patterned with the American flag.

The caption supporting the promotion reads, "Support President Trump and his efforts to help America grow!”

As of Thursday evening, the NRCC was providing the shirts to anyone who donated $25 or more.

In initial media reports, it was not clear how serious Trump was in his desire to acquire the strategically important island. However, in recent days, the president has drawn the United States into an international controversy over Greenland.

More: Danish PM ‘disappointed and surprised' after Trump cancels visit over Greenland spat

A day after those initial reports, Greenland’s foreign ministry asserted that the island is “open for business, not for sale.”

Trump canceled an upcoming trip to Denmark after its prime minister called his interest in a purchase “absurd." The president also responded by calling the Danish leader's comments “nasty.”

"I thought that the prime minister's statement — that it was 'absurd,' that it was an 'absurd' idea — it was nasty. I thought it was an inappropriate statement. All she had to do is say, 'No, we wouldn't be interested,'" Trump said. "You don't talk to the United States that way, at least under me... I thought it was not a nice statement — the way she blew me off — because she is blowing off the United States. And we've done a lot for Denmark. We've done a lot. I know Denmark well. I have many friends from Denmark. I have many people from Denmark that live in the United States."

More: Donald Trump cancels trip to Denmark after prime minister dismisses his offer to buy Greenland as 'absurd'

Additionally, the New York Times has reported that a former White House official overheard the president joking about trading Puerto Rico for Greenland. Trump has had a turbulent relationship with the American territory and has frequently sparred with Puerto Rican politicians.

Sen. Tom Cotton R-Ark. took credit this week for apparently giving Trump the idea to consider acquiring Greenland.

Talk Business & Politics, an Arkansas business news website, reports Cotton had proposed the idea to Trump and met with the Danish ambassador about the possibility of a sale.

"You’re joking, but I can reveal to you that several months ago, I met with the Danish ambassador and I proposed that they sell Greenland to us," the outlet reported Cotton said in response to a question from the moderator.

The NRCC isn’t the only GOP group to launch Greenland T-shirts.

The Nevada Republican Party also reportedly ran Facebook ads with more shirts people could wear to show their “support for making Greeland the 51st state”

One T-shirt featured “Greenland!” on the front with “This land is your land, this land is our land!” underneath it. The back of the shirt shows cartoonish images of America and Greenland high-fiving.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: GOP groups fundraising with T-shirts showing Greenland as part of U.S.