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treaty ally of the United States, and there were enormous benefits to actually acquiring the Southwest, whereas we can presumably get the military bases and mineral extraction we want out of frozen Greenland without formal ownership.

If Trump is going to look to Polk, a more apt antecedent is his handling of the dispute with the Brits over the Oregon territory. After making maximalist demands, Polk agreed to an equitable compromise at the 49th parallel.

Polk’s example is worth marking in another respect. He really did play 3D chess. There’s no way he’d let ego or emotion get in the way of pursuing the national interest, which in this case includes not needlessly alienating longtime allies when other means are available to achieve our strategic ends.

Rich Lowry is editor of the National Review. (c) 2026 by King Features Synd., Inc.