Late-night host Bill Maher emphasized his desire to see Americans find a "middle ground" on issues like a United States takeover of Greenland.
President Trump has pushed to acquire the Danish territory, citing national security concerns and even going as far as to suggest a military takeover of the region.
The comedian noted that Trump was "not the first president" to suggest a U.S. acquisition of the Danish territory during the Monday episode of his "Club Random with Bill Maher" podcast.
While Maher entertained the president's broader security goals behind his pursuit of the region, he rejected the president's suggestions of using the U.S. military to seize the territory.
"Of course, it's insane to say we're going to take it by force," Maher told his guest, conservative comedian Adam Carolla. "That was crazy, but Greenland, is it the craziest idea anybody has ever had? No. And could it be super valuable? Yes. Is it worth, like, making the whole world hate us? No."
Danish officials and European allies have repeatedly said that Greenland is "not for sale" in response to Trump's inquiries.
Former Presidents Johnson, Taft and Truman all made bids for the region during their time in the White House. The U.S. already enjoys sweeping military access to the territory through an international agreement brokered during the Cold War under President Truman. This agreement offers the U.S. military "free access" to operate in the country's defense areas and was updated in 2004 to provide broader rights due to changes to Danish military bases and evolving North Atlantic security concerns.
Maher stressed the need for finding a "middle ground" in political conversations, including the debate over acquiring Greenland.
"We used to have grand bargains in this country where they would, each side would come to the table, and they would understand we're not going to get everything," Maher said. "We're going to get Greenland, but we're not actually going to own it with the deed."
Trump backed down from his threats of a military takeover after meeting with NATO Chief Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last month. Additionally, the president agreed to rescind planned tariffs on Denmark and its allied countries.
However, the president maintains that U.S. control over the territory is necessary to maintain its national security.
Discussions between Danish and American officials are ongoing, and Greenlandic Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said on Saturday that the two countries have yet to arrive at a solution, according to Reuters.
"We are not where we want to be yet," Motzfeldt said. "There is going to be a long track, so where we're going to land at the end, it's too early to say."