In what could prove to be a pivotal election year for the Republicans, with the midterms holding much influence, President Donald Trump arguably needs the support of his own party now more than ever. Especially as he is facing loud calls for impeachment from the Democratic Party on account of his Venezuela operation that resulted in the capture of fallen President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Yet there is currently a split forming, as some prominent Republican lawmakers are publicly disagreeing with Trump regarding his renewed annexation threats against Greenland in the wake of the Venezuela intervention. In a series of inflammatory remarks labeled as “utterly unacceptable” by Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Trump reasserted his stance that Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, should be under U.S. jurisdiction, citing it as a “national security situation.”
When discussing his desire to acquire Greenland last year, Trump notably refused to rule out military force to annex the territory. That notion was revisited this week when the White House released a statement that said “utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander-in-chief's disposal.”
Trump’s renewed fixation on Greenland—and his refusal to back down, despite the pleas of the territory’s leadership—has now earned him rebuke from within his own party.
“This is appalling. Greenland is a NATO ally. Denmark is one of our best friends… so the way we’re treating them is really demeaning and it has no upside,” Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska told CNN on Tuesday. “We’re not going to acquire Greenland. I know most of those people in Greenland want to remain independent.”
Referring to the Greenland rhetoric as one of the “silliest things” to come out of the White house over the past year, Bacon urged his fellow Republicans to join him in taking a stand. “I hope other Republicans line up behind me and make it clear to the White House this is wrong,” he said.
Here are some of the prominent Republicans who have publicly broken ranks with Trump over the contentious matter:
Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
Lisa Murkowski voiced her concern on Tuesday, arguing that “any effort to claim or take the territory by force would degrade both our national security and our international relationships.”
Urging the protection of the long, historical alliance between the U.S. and Denmark, Murkowski added: “We must see it [Greenland] as an ally, not an asset, and focus on continued partnership rather than possession.”
Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska
Rep. Bacon has issued a number of statements against the Trump Administration’s Greenland approach.
Bacon called out White House deputy chief of staff of policy Stephen Miller on Monday, after the staffer said: “Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The U.S. is the power of NATO. Nobody is gonna fight the U.S. militarily over the future of Greenland.”
Bacon referred to the remarks as “dumb,” insisting that respect should be paid to Greenland and Denmark, as they are “allies of the U.S.”
In response to a statement published by Denmark alongside fellow NATO members France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, which showed support to Greenland, Bacon said it was "embarrassing" for the U.S. that such a statement had to be issued in the first place.
Sen. John Thune of South Dakota
Senate Majority Leader John Thune reportedly told press he doesn't view “military action being an option” in Greenland and flagged the idea as “not something that anybody is contemplating seriously.”
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina
Sen. Thom Tillis issued a bipartisan statement alongside Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.
“When Denmark and Greenland make it clear that Greenland is not for sale, the United States must honor its treaty obligations,” the statement read, imploring the U.S. to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the NATO member. “Any suggestion that our nation would subject a fellow NATO ally to coercion or external pressure undermines the very principles of self-determination that our Alliance exists to defend.”
The co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate NATO Observer Group went on to highlight the potential risk of “distractions or divisions within NATO” and said “we must stay focused on the real threats before us and work with our allies, not against them, to advance our shared security.”
Rep. Blake Moore of Utah
Blake Moore co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus alongside Democratic Rep. Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland. The pair published a joint statement in response to Trump’s annexation desires.
"Sabre-rattling about annexing Greenland is needlessly dangerous. The Kingdom of Denmark is a NATO ally and one of America’s closest partners,” the statement read. “An attack on Greenland—a crucial part of that alliance—would tragically be an attack on NATO.”
The lawmakers said that an annexation could result in a NATO “civil war” and that Trump’s threats “needlessly undermine” the U.S. relationship with Denmark.
Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas
Jerry Moran, who also sits on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said that U.S. control over Greenland “is none of our business.”
“We’re not going to take over another country that’s our ally,” he emphasized.
Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana
Although Speaker of the House Mike Johnson did not directly criticise Trump or the White House over comments regarding Greenland, he did express disagreement with any proposal of military intervention in the territory.
“All this stuff about military action and all that, I don't even think that's a possibility. I don't think anybody's seriously considering that. And in the Congress, we're certainly not,” he said during a D.C. news conference on Wednesday, stating that America will not be sending troops into Greenland to take it over.
Johnson did, however, express his view that the annexation of Greenland is “in America's interest” and “not against Greenland's interests.” The Speaker emphasized the need for “a lot of thoughtful discussion.”
The lawmaker also cited the “strategic importance” of Greenland's geographical placement, echoing previous comments made by Trump, and the territory's “rare Earth minerals.”
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky
Rand Paul, a key critic of Trump, has expressed openness to the U.S. acquiring Greenland, but he’s not keen on the method.
“I’m not against approaching Greenland in a voluntary way… right now it’s been more in the wrong direction,” Paul told reporters. “You won’t get there by insulting them.”
Regarding Trump’s rhetoric, Rand said he wasn’t sure “how much is bravado, how much is bombast,” but that “militarily taking Greenland” is something he would “not support.”
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