The president has floated the idea of expanding the country to include Canada, Greenland, and Venezuela

US President Donald Trump has said he plans to expand the country by adding Canada, Greenland, and Venezuela as new states, later describing the remarks as a joke, the Washington Post has reported, citing eyewitnesses.

Trump reportedly made the comments at the annual Alfalfa Club dinner on Saturday, an exclusive gathering of CEOs, politicians, and other Washington luminaries. It was the first time he had addressed the club, whose members include JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, philanthropist David Rubenstein, and outgoing Federal Reserve chairman Jerome H. Powell, according to the newspaper.

"So many people in the room I hate. Most of you I like," Trump told the audience. He added that he might cut his speech short to watch the "invasion of Greenland," before adding: "We're not going to invade Greenland. We're going to buy it." 

"It's never been my intention to make Greenland the 51st state. I want to make Canada the 51st state. Greenland will be the 52nd state. Venezuela can be 53rd," Trump stated.

Trump has repeatedly made acquiring Greenland a policy objective, arguing that the autonomous Danish island's strategic location and resources are crucial to US security. He has also claimed that Denmark is too weak to defend it from a supposed Russian or Chinese threat - a charge dismissed as implausible by Copenhagen, Moscow, and Beijing.

Last year, Trump said Canada would be better off as the "cherished" 51st state of the United States, repeatedly referring to Canadian prime ministers as "governors." He argued this was the only way to resolve trade disputes between the two countries. More recently, Trump threatened a 100% tariff on Canadian goods if Ottawa pursues closer trade ties with China.

In Venezuela, the US conducted a military raid in early January that captured President Nicolas Maduro and brought him to New York to face charges. Washington has since demanded "total access" to the country's oil sector.

Speaking during a cabinet meeting last week, Trump said his administration was "getting along really well" with Venezuela's interim leadership and confirmed that major US oil companies were scouting new projects in the country.