The Republicans Breaking Ranks With Trump Over Greenland Threats: ‘This Is Appalling’
SOURCE:Time Magazine|BY:Callum Sutherland
“This is appalling. Greenland is a NATO ally. The way we’re treating them is really demeaning," said Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska.
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.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska speaks to reporters in the Senate on Oct. 8, 2025. Bill Clark—Getty Images
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 U.S. 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.
Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska talks with reporters in the Capitol on Dec. 16, 2025. Tom Williams—Getty Images
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.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks at a press conference in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2026. Nathan Posner—Getty Images
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.”
Sen. Thom Tillis speaks during a hearing Washington, D.C. on Oct. 30, 2025. Tom Williams—Getty Images
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.
Rep. Blake Moore attends a news conference following the House Republican conference meeting in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 13, 2024. Tierney L. Cross—Getty Images
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.
Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas speaks during a hearing in the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 17, 2025. Heather Diehl—Getty Images
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.”
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks to press following a briefing by members of the Trump Administration in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 5, 2025. Nathan Posner—Getty Images
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.”
Sen. Rand Paul speaks during a hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 17, 2025. Kevin Dietsch—Getty Images
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky
While speaking to reporters outside the Capitol on Tuesday evening, Thomas Massie, who often clashes with Trump, bemoaned: “I don’t know what timeline we’re living in where we’re talking about taking over Greenland.”
When asked if he would back a resolution against military intervention in Greenland, Massie said it would depend on whether the Trump follows through on his threats, noting that the President did, in fact, follow through regarding Venezuela. On that topic, Massie argued the U.S.' capturing of Maduro amounts to “an act of war.”
Congressman Thomas Massie, R-Ky., in Mount Olivet, Kentucky, on Sept. 24, 2025. Tasha Poullard—Getty Images
Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana
John Kennedy issued a damning response to the Greenland rhetoric, arguing that invading the territory and attacking its sovereignty “would be weapons-grade stupid” and that he doesn't think Trump or Secretary of State Marco Rubio would launch an invasion.
Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, speaks to members of the media in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 19, 2025. Eric Lee—Getty Images
Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
Mitch McConnell, one of the most senior Republican Senators, published a statement criticising Trump’s renewed interest in the Danish territory.
“Threats and intimidation by U.S. officials over American ownership of Greenland are as unseemly as they are counterproductive,” said McConnell, adding that the use of force to annex the territory “would be an especially catastrophic act of strategic self-harm to America and its global influence.”
Noting the importance of strategic security in the Arctic, the veteran Senator continued: “The northernmost reaches of the globe may well shape our strategic competition with major adversaries like Russia and China for decades to come. But if America behaves as though winning that competition requires trampling the sovereignty, respect, and trust of our allies, we will surely lose it.”
Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill on Dec. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik—Getty Images
Sen. John Curtis of Utah
John Curtis said “strengthening our partnership with Denmark and Greenland and working with our allies to secure the Arctic is in America’s national interest.”
Denouncing the idea of a physical intervention, Curtis added: “Military force is not appropriate, not necessary, and not something I will support. Full stop.”
Sen. John Curtis speaks to a reporter in the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 16, 2025. Bill Clark—Getty Images
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine
Susan Collins issued a statement detailing her disapproval of the Trump Administration’s plan to “run” Venezuela for a period of time. While addressing the precarious situation in the South American country, Collins referenced—and denounced—Trump’s threats toward Greenland.
“While I support the operation to seize Nicolás Maduro, which was extraordinary in its precision and complexity, I do not support committing additional U.S. forces or entering into any long-term military involvement in Venezuela or Greenland without specific congressional authorization,” she said.
Sen. Susan Collins addresses the media in the Senate Subway at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 18, 2025. Graeme Sloan—Getty Images
