This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

In an interview, new Secretary of State Marco Rubio explains that President Donald Trump is serious about acquiring Greenland.

The idea was just one of the bombshells Trump has dropped in recent days; another being the desire to have the U.S. exercise more influence over the operations of the Panama Canal, instead of China.

Rubio explained that Trump, on Greenland, "wants to buy it. He wants to pay for it.

But he said discussions over the idea will be in the "appropriate forum," not in the public.

"Those conversations will happen," he explained. "This is not a joke… this is in our national interest."

He said Trump has "put out there what he intends to do … He just speaks bluntly and frankly with people."

He said four years from now, "our interests in the Arctic will be more secure. Our interest in the Panama Canal will be more secure.

A report at Twitchy said, "Like Rubio said, Trump is going to leverage every option to reach an agreement with Denmark which turns over Greenland to America. Some are laughing at Trump but America's safety and security is no joke."