A prominent Republican congressman has issued a stark warning to President Donald Trump, stating he would strongly consider supporting a new impeachment effort if the President follows through on threats to militarily invade Greenland.
Impeachment Threat Over 'Utter Buffoonery'
Representative Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska who is not seeking re-election, told the Omaha World-Herald that the President's persistent campaign to acquire the autonomous Danish territory was "utter buffoonery." While cautious about giving a definitive answer, Bacon stated, "I don't want to give you a definite yes or no, but I would lean that way." He elaborated that an invasion of a NATO ally would be a "catastrophic" mistake and "the worst idea ever."
Bacon is the sole Republican co-sponsor of a new House bill designed to prevent US military action against NATO members and their territories, explicitly including Greenland. He admitted the legislation "should be unnecessary," but felt compelled to act due to the President's daily rhetoric. "It's ridiculous that this has to even be done," Bacon said, adding that he needed to make clear that many Republicans disagree with the President's approach.
Widespread Opposition and Strategic Warnings
Public and political opposition to the President's Greenland ambition appears significant. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, found that only 17 percent of Americans approve of the push to acquire the island. A large majority of both Republican and Democratic voters oppose using military force to annex it.
Bacon confirmed that "so many Republicans" are angered by the situation, predicting that following through on the threats "would be the end of his presidency." He is not alone in his public dissent. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took to the Senate floor on Wednesday, arguing that such an act would constitute "unprecedented strategic self-harm" and would be "more disastrous for the President’s legacy than withdrawing from Afghanistan was for his predecessor."
The financial cost is also staggering. According to NBC News estimates, purchasing Greenland could cost the United States up to $700 billion—more than half of the entire annual Defence Department budget.
Diplomatic Deadlock and White House Defence
The warnings come amid a continuing diplomatic impasse. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday. After the talks, Rasmussen stated a "fundamental disagreement" remained, noting, "We didn't manage to change the American position."
The White House, however, remains defiant. Spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Independent that President Trump is a "visionary leader" generating "creative ideas to bolster US national security." She argued that NATO would be "far more formidable" with Greenland under US control and that Greenlanders would be better protected from Arctic threats by the United States.
Later on Wednesday, President Trump reiterated his stance to reporters in the Oval Office, emphasising Greenland's strategic importance and suggesting Denmark could not defend it from rivals like Russia or China. "There's everything we can do," he said, drawing a parallel to recent US actions in Venezuela.
President Trump has already been impeached twice during his presidency—first in 2019 on charges of obstruction of Congress and abuse of power, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection following the January 6 Capitol attack. He was acquitted by the Senate on both occasions.
