Congress Faces Challenge as Trump Pushes for Greenland Acquisition

Thu Jan 29 2026 21:18:10 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The narrative surrounding President Trump's ambition to acquire Greenland intensifies as Congressional Republicans express dissent, questioning the legality and morality of a potential takeover.

President Trump's push to acquire Greenland has met with backlash from an increasing number of Republican lawmakers who are concerned about the implications for U.S. foreign policy and its relationship with allies. With the potential for congressional intervention growing, lawmakers debate their role in determining the fate of the territory, which is currently self-governed by Denmark. The situation highlights broader concerns about unilateral military actions and the health of the NATO alliance.

President Donald Trump's push to acquire Greenland has sparked a backlash from Republicans in Congress, as lawmakers voice growing concern about US military interventions overseas.

But it remains unclear if enough Republicans are willing to join Democrats to block a takeover of the island territory - and whether Trump would bow to pressure from Congress, or act alone as he's done several times in a second term marked by growing American entanglements abroad.

The focus on Greenland has grown into a broader discussion over the Trump administration's unilateral use of military force, along with diplomatic and economic coercion, to project power in Venezuela, Iran, and elsewhere around the world.

Republicans have largely backed Trump's foreign policy agenda since he returned to the White House. But now, a growing number are siding with Democrats and NATO allies who say a takeover of Greenland would violate US and international law.

In recent days, some Republican leaders have said there's little interest in the US buying Greenland or seizing it through military force. Some Republican lawmakers have also joined Democrats in opposing a new plan by Trump to place tariffs on countries that don't back his bid to acquire the territory, which is self-governed but controlled by Denmark.

Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina remarked that the tariffs would be bad for America, emphasizing that it would benefit countries like China and Russia. Other Republicans argued that Trump's ambition threatens to undermine the NATO alliance, emphasizing the need to respect Greenland's sovereignty.

Trump argues that U.S. ownership of Greenland is essential for national security and global competition, but Congress maintains the power of the purse, which they could use to halt any acquisition attempts.

As the situation evolves, both parties in Congress are contemplating measures to restrict any unilateral military action in Greenland without legislative approval, signaling a potential confrontation with the Trump administration over its foreign policy approach.