[dathinab]

you are aware that he doesn't actually believe that he "[...] could have convinced [..]"

it's a manner of speech

a instrument of telling a story

a way to express how completely absurd "US getting involved into Greenland" is for anyone who understands the land (geography/weather) and people even unrelated to geopolitical aspects like alienating allies

[AreShoesFeet000]

My argument stands whether the author meant to be read literally or not. Below the surface it’s still about the tension of rationality and irrationality within social settings.