Here's the first thing President Trump's advisors must tell him. When negotiating with Denmark to buy Greenland: it isn't Denmark’s to sell.

Donald Trump is not the first U.S. president to make an offer to buy Greenland. President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million for it in 1946.

Today, 56,000 Greenlanders strive for political recognition, autonomy and (if it became possible) independence from their former colonizers.

In 2008, the country overwhelmingly passed a referendum on Greenland self-governance. Politically, this placed the Greenlandic parliament on an equal basis with the Danish parliament — although this relationship is an uneasy one.

Some aspects of Greenland’s politics remain under Danish control: foreign policy, security and international agreements. And this costs Denmark plenty — it contributes two-thirds of Greenland's budget ($1.59 billion).

Under current law, Greenlanders have the right to self-determination, and any agreement to purchase this vast landscape would need the approval of the Greenlanders.

Many are calling the idea of the U.S. getting control of the island — ludicrous — but closer examination says, maybe not. What Trump actually wants is Arctic access for America. A purchase would only be possible if the autonomous territory declared independence from Denmark.

He could seek to make it a

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