Congress: Stop Trump’s Dangerous Grab for Greenland

In January, President Trump revived his push to take control of Greenland, insisting the United States “needs” the territory and refusing to rule out economic or military coercion. His administration has signaled plans for punitive tariffs on European allies if Denmark resists. This is not a joke or a negotiating stunt. It is a direct threat to international law, democratic self-determination, and NATO's stability.

Greenland is a self-governing territory whose people have repeatedly and overwhelmingly rejected U.S. annexation. Denmark’s prime minister has warned that any attempt to take Greenland by force would fundamentally damage transatlantic security. Protests have erupted across Greenland and Denmark, with citizens demanding that the United States respect their sovereignty.

Opposition to this scheme is not partisan. Republican senators have publicly rejected the idea of seizing Greenland, warning that it would violate international norms, endanger U.S. alliances, and drag the country into an unnecessary crisis. When even members of the president’s own party say this goes too far, Congress has no excuse for inaction.

This moment demands a clear line. A U.S. president cannot threaten allies, impose economic punishment, or claim the right to take foreign land without congressional authorization. Allowing that precedent would weaken the Constitution and make the world more dangerous.

Congress must pass binding protections that block funding for any attempt to seize or coerce control of Greenland, reaffirm U.S. commitments to NATO, and make clear that territorial conquest is unacceptable.