Congress Pushes Back Against Trump's Greenland Acquisition Plans

Thu Jan 22 2026 01:05:56 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As President Trump renews his interest in acquiring Greenland, Congress faces growing dissent within the Republican Party, sparking debate over military intervention and international law.

President Trump's ambition to acquire Greenland has triggered significant backlash among Republicans in Congress, with increasing calls for bipartisan opposition to his unilateral military actions. Many lawmakers express concerns about the legality and ethical implications of such actions, while a number of Republicans publicly distance themselves from Trump's agenda. The situation raises questions about Congress's authority and potential actions to limit the President's ability to intervene unilaterally.

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 in Congress 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. The White House had previously left the military option on the table but it was ruled out by Trump in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

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.

The proposed tariffs would be 'bad for America, bad for American businesses, and bad for America's allies,' Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina wrote on social media.

Other Republicans have voiced support for Trump. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said on Sunday that it was 'overwhelmingly in America's national interest' to own Greenland.

With tensions rising, lawmakers are debating Congress's powers concerning military actions and foreign territory acquisitions. There is a potential for new legislation to be introduced to curb Trump's ambitions regarding Greenland, particularly around the military involvement without congressional approval.

Trump has maintained that ownership of Greenland is critical for national and global security but significant opposition is brewing within his own party, indicating a challenging journey ahead for his administration's foreign policy.