Americans Oppose Territorial Seizures

A January 9–12, 2026 Economist/YouGov poll finds only 8% of Americans favor a U.S. military takeover of Greenland and 64% oppose paying Greenlanders $10k–$100k to secede and join the U.S.; opposition is broad among Democrats and Independents and splits Republicans with many unsure. The data show public opinion is a major practical constraint on headline‑grabbing proposals to acquire territory or buy secession. — This matters because mass resistance at home makes adventurous unilateral foreign moves (or pay‑to‑secede schemes) politically infeasible and signals to policymakers and the media that such options lack democratic legitimacy.