Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) is taking searing aim at President Donald Trump’s fixation on acquiring Greenland.
In an interview with the Omaha World-Herald on Wednesday, Bacon described talk of taking over the autonomous territory as “utter buffoonery.” He also warned the president of bipartisan impeachment efforts if he decides to invade.
“If he went through with the threats, I think it would be the end of his presidency,” Bacon said. “And he needs to know: The off-ramp is realizing Republicans aren’t going to tolerate this and he’s going to have to back off. He hates being told no, but in this case, I think Republicans need to be firm.”
Bacon — who has expressed criticism of the president on a handful of issues, most recently including a criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell — voted against all of the articles of impeachment against Trump during his first term. He told the Omaha World-Herald, however, that he would lean in favor of doing so if Trump’s idea came to fruition.
The Kingdom of Denmark, which includes Greenland, is a founding member of NATO. Trump has stated that NATO would be “far more formidable” with Greenland under U.S. control, and has argued that the alliance should be helping the United States obtain the territory, which holds untapped reserves of critical minerals.
“I’m the one who SAVED NATO!!!” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform earlier this week.
But some politicians, analysts and Danish officials have warned that any attempt to secure Greenland by force could spell the collapse of the alliance.
“It would be a total mistake to invade an ally,” Bacon said in the interview. “It would be catastrophic to our allies and everything. It’s just the worst idea ever in my view.”
Trump renewed his ambition to claim the Arctic island following the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela that captured its leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife.
While arguing that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security, Trump has claimed that the United States must own the territory to deter Russia or China from occupying it in the future.
On the heels of a meeting between U.S., Danish and Greenlandic officials on Wednesday, several European countries — including France, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom — have either sent troops to the region or have pledged to take action in the coming days to begin military exercises in a show of support for Denmark.
A top Danish official said there is a “fundamental disagreement” with Trump over Greenland after meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House.
The White House has not ruled out using military force to acquire the island, but Rubio said last week that the United States is interested in potentially purchasing it, despite officials there saying it is not for sale. A poll from last year found that most Greenlanders, too, do not want to become a part of the country, with only 6% in agreement.