Donald Trump's renewed ambition to take control of Greenland has sparked a rare and pointed rebellion within his own party, as key congressional Republicans publicly warn the president against pursuing what they label an "absurd" and dangerous proposition.
Senior Republicans Issue Forceful Warnings
In a significant break from typical party unity, several prominent Republican figures have spoken out in recent days. The dissent follows Trump's reintensified interest in the Arctic territory after the US raid that captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.
North Carolina senator Thom Tillis took to the Senate floor on Wednesday to declare the idea "absurd." He stated, "Somebody needs to tell the president that the people of Greenland, up until these current times, were actually very, very pro-American and very, very pro American presence."
In even starker terms, Nebraska congressman Don Bacon told the Omaha World-Herald that following through on the threats could spell the end of Trump's presidency. "He needs to know: the off-ramp is realizing Republicans aren’t going to tolerate this and he’s going to have to back off," Bacon warned.
Threat to NATO and Political Legacy
The warnings come amid polling showing most Americans oppose seizing Greenland and stark cautions from Denmark that such an act would destroy the NATO alliance. Former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell compared the potential move to Joe Biden's unpopular withdrawal from Afghanistan, suggesting it would be even more disastrous for Trump's legacy.
"Following through on this provocation would be more disastrous for the president’s legacy than withdrawing from Afghanistan was for his predecessor," McConnell said, arguing it would incinerate allied trust for no meaningful gain in the Arctic.
European nations have reacted with alarm. Troops from France, Germany, the UK, Norway, and Sweden arrived in Greenland this week in a show of political support, described by one country as a scoping mission for a potential sustained deployment.
A Broader Pattern of Expansionism
Trump has displayed an expansionist streak in his second term, having also publicly declared a desire for the US to annex Canada and the Panama Canal. His focus returned to Greenland after the successful Venezuela raid.
Despite a meeting on Wednesday between Trump, Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the foreign ministers of Greenland and Denmark, the US president's demands remain unchanged. Trump later insisted the US still "needs" Greenland for national security and threatened tariffs on opposing countries.
The dissenters, including Tillis, Bacon, and McConnell, are not seeking re-election this year, affording them greater freedom to speak out. Other critics, like centrist senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, emphasised the need to view Greenland as an ally, not an asset.
Signs of discomfort extend to Republicans closer to Trump, particularly regarding the NATO implications. Ohio congressman Mike Turner stressed the critical importance of transatlantic relationships and respecting sovereignty, while Louisiana senator John Kennedy called the idea of invading a NATO ally "weapons-grade stupid," while maintaining Trump is not.
The internal party conflict highlights the severe geopolitical and domestic political risks associated with Trump's Greenland pursuit, testing the loyalty of his party on an unprecedented foreign policy issue.
