Could US Congress stop Trump from taking over Greenland?

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete January 21, 2026 at 11:02 AM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

President Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland is facing resistance from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Lawmakers are concerned about the legality and implications of a potential takeover, especially given Trump's history of unilateral foreign policy decisions. The debate has expanded to encompass concerns about Trump's broader use of military force and economic coercion in foreign policy, particularly regarding Venezuela, Iran, and now Greenland. Some Republicans are specifically opposing proposed tariffs intended to pressure countries into supporting the acquisition, arguing they would harm American businesses and allies while benefiting adversaries like China and Russia. The opposition highlights concerns about undermining NATO and respecting Greenland's sovereignty, despite Trump's claims that acquiring the territory is necessary to compete with China and Russia in the Arctic.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Thom Tillis 40% Lisa Murkowski 40% Denmark ×250% Democrats ×350% China ×250% Russia ×250% North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ×460% Republicans ×560% US Congress ×370% United States ×680% Donald Trump ×1090% Greenland ×1095%

Keywords

greenland takeover 100% us foreign policy 80% congressional opposition 70% trump administration 70% us military intervention 60% nato alliance 60% china and russia 50% tariffs 50% international law 40%