Senate Republicans are signaling firm resistance to any attempt by President Trump to use military force to take control of Greenland, as administration officials continue to press the issue in diplomatic meetings.
Several GOP lawmakers say they are increasingly alarmed by Trump’s public willingness to consider military action against Denmark, a NATO ally, warning that such a move would severely damage the alliance and undermine Western efforts to counter Russia.
Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska are planning a trip to Copenhagen later this week to reassure Danish leaders that Congress would strongly oppose any effort to seize Greenland by force.
Tillis said lawmakers remain deeply concerned about the constitutional and diplomatic consequences of such an action, emphasizing that Congress would not stand aside if the administration attempted to take military action against a sovereign NATO partner.
Another Republican senator, speaking anonymously, said the Greenland issue has sparked unusually broad pushback within the party because of the risk it poses to NATO unity and Ukraine’s defense.
Public opinion also appears skeptical. A recent national poll found that fewer than one in five Americans support the idea of the United States taking over Greenland, with only a small fraction backing the use of military force. Most respondents said such a move would harm relationships with European allies.
The congressional delegation traveling to Denmark will include both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, who plan to meet with Danish and Greenlandic officials to reinforce support for diplomatic cooperation rather than coercion.
Murkowski has introduced bipartisan legislation that would prohibit the use of Defense or State Department funds to blockade, occupy, or conduct military operations against Greenland or any NATO member state without congressional approval. As senior members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen have significant influence over defense and foreign policy funding.
Sen. Mitch McConnell also weighed in with a sharp warning, saying that threatening military action against Greenland would severely weaken trust among U.S. allies and provide strategic advantages to adversaries like Russia.
McConnell argued that Denmark and Greenland have already shown openness to expanded U.S. military cooperation in the Arctic, making aggressive rhetoric unnecessary and counterproductive.
Despite growing opposition, Trump has continued to argue that U.S. control of Greenland is essential for national security, suggesting that diplomatic resistance from Denmark could lead to tougher measures.
Other Republican leaders have publicly rejected that approach, stressing that Greenland and Denmark are longstanding allies and that any expansion of U.S. presence in the Arctic should be achieved through negotiation, not threats.
Danish and Greenlandic officials have reiterated that while they are open to stronger security partnerships with the United States, sovereignty over Greenland is not negotiable.