Fact Check: Does the United States own the moon, as claimed by Fox host Jesse Watters?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A rumor about the legal status of the moon began circulating widely after Fox News host Jesse Watters claimed that the United States owns it. The claim spread online quickly, sparking debates about space law, national sovereignty, and the long-standing assumption tied to lunar exploration. Let us fact-check the claim.
Claim: The United States owns the moon
In January, while discussing President Donald Trump’s controversial stance on acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, Jesse Watters drew online ridicule after commenting that the United States owned the moon.
During Fox News’ ‘The Five’, Watters said, “We have to secure Greenland. It will happen. Dana is right. She's never been wrong in any of her predictions. The United States always secures our interests, economically, militarily, either by force or purchase. Louisiana Purchase. Alaska. The Philippines."
"We even got the Marshall Islands after World War II. You don't even know where they are, Greg. We got the moon. I think we own it. And — I know we own it.”
Although a spokesperson claimed that Watters’ remark was made in jest, it raised questions about whether the United States owns the moon. If not, does anyone?
Fact Check: False, no nation owns the moon
According to the United Nations Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, no one owns the moon.
As per Article II of the treaty, celestial bodies, including the moon, are not subject to 'national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means.'
This means that nations signing the treaty agree not to claim celestial bodies as their own.
As of present, no nation or group of nations, including the US, has defied the treaty and declared ownership of the moon. Hence, Watters’ claim is false.
Sharing Watters’ remark on Facebook, a user wrote, “We don't own the moon. We can't claim celestial bodies by law. And imperialism by cable news analogy is not a foreign policy."
Donald Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland
The claim surfaced during a discussion about Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland, following which some countries in the European Union have deployed troops to the Arctic territory since January 15.
The annexation threats have raised serious doubts about the future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and have threatened the stability of transatlantic trade.
Trump even threatened to impose a 10 percent tariff on Denmark and seven other European countries if an agreement to sell the islands to the United States is not reached by June 1.
However, on January 21, 2026, Trump abruptly withdrew his threat after speaking with international leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.
