Reuters: Trump's interest in Greenland raises impeachment fears

Reports of a potential US move on Greenland have stirred alarm among Washington officials, Congress, and international allies, highlighting the personalized and centralized approach that has defined President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, Reuters reports.

Last month, officials from the United States, Denmark, and Greenland met in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, in what sources described as a routine session with no discussion of US military or financial takeover. Yet, less than two weeks later, Trump appointed a special envoy, Jeff Landry, who publicly stated on social media he would help “make Greenland part of the US” The move reportedly stunned Copenhagen and blindsided senior US officials working on European and NATO matters.

“This exclusion of his own diplomats fits the pattern of Trump’s foreign policy-making, which has veered wildly on a range of issues,” sources told Reuters. Administration actions—including an implied threat to seize Greenland, proposals for new tariffs on allies, and pressure on Denmark—appeared driven primarily by Trump and a small circle of aides, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Vice President JD Vance, with others attempting to steer the president away from military force.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended the approach, saying, “The president was elected to implement America First foreign policy, and he has done so more effectively through his top-down approach.”

The situation escalated after White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, in a January 5 interview, refused to rule out military action to acquire Greenland, fueling confusion and alarm among lawmakers. Sources said Republican and Democratic members of Congress warned administration officials that any unilateral military move could prompt an impeachment investigation.

Trump subsequently de-escalated tensions, withdrawing proposed tariffs and claiming he had outlined a future deal with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Sources say military action was never seriously considered.

Kori Schake, a former Pentagon official, noted, “Trump is so erratic with his threats, there's no way to establish that he won’t turn right around and do it again. He has made the United States untrustworthy to our closest friends.”

Trump and his aides argue Greenland is critical to counter Russian and Chinese influence, though the US already maintains a military base under a 1951 treaty with Denmark. Analysts note that the episode reflects a consistent pattern across his second term, including in Ukraine and Syria, where Trump has centralized decisions, sidelined experts, and relied heavily on trusted aides to implement policy.

White House spokesperson Kelly dismissed concerns, stating, “There is tremendous collaboration throughout President Trump’s administration … Then there are the anonymous sources whining to the press who clearly don’t have the judgment or temperament to implement President Trump’s agenda.”

By Vafa Guliyeva