Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) broke with many Democrats by backing President Trump’s proposal to acquire Greenland, urging a purchase rather than the use of force. His comments follow renewed White House interest in Greenland after reports of a covert U.S. action in Venezuela and President Trump’s remarks calling Greenland a national security priority. Senate Republicans are split: some favor purchase, while others, including Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, strongly criticized the idea.
Sen. John Fetterman Breaks With Democrats, Backs Trump’s Push To Acquire Greenland
Fetterman said
Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) surprised many colleagues by publicly supporting President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to acquire Greenland — but he emphasized purchase rather than force.
In a post on X, Fetterman, 56, wrote: “I believe Greenland has massive strategic benefits for the United States. I do not support taking it by force. America is not a bully.” He added: “Ideally, we purchase it—similar to our purchases of Alaska or the Louisiana Purchase. Acquiring Greenland is a many-decades-old conversation.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was not on the hill on January 7 to talk about Greenland but said that he would be meeting with Danish officials next week, and it was always the president's intention to buy the country. / Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
The remarks came after reports about a covert U.S. operation in Venezuela and renewed public discussion by President Trump, 79, about expanding U.S. strategic holdings. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump described Greenland as important "from the standpoint of national security." The White House told Reuters it considers acquiring Greenland a national security priority and said the administration is discussing a range of options.
“The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander-in-chief’s disposal,” the statement said, according to Reuters.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told lawmakers the administration would prefer to purchase Greenland rather than invade it. Other Republicans, however, expressed alarm: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) called the idea of seizing or buying Greenland “very, very unsettling,” and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she opposed any U.S. attempt to take over Greenland by military means or financial incentives.
John Fetterman has signalled a willingness to work with Donald Trump on multiple issues. / Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Fetterman’s support for the administration’s approach marks another instance of him breaking with many in his party. Critics point to his voting record and interactions with MAGA-aligned figures — including attending a Washington dinner with Steve Bannon in June and describing a previous meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago as “kind and cordial.”
He was also one of eight lawmakers who broke with most Democrats to vote to end a government shutdown in November, despite the party not securing an extension for Affordable Care Act subsidies. Fetterman’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Why It Matters
Greenland’s strategic location and natural resources have prompted occasional U.S. interest for decades. Any serious attempt to acquire the territory would raise complex legal, diplomatic and ethical questions involving Denmark (which administers Greenland), Greenlandic self-rule, international law, and Arctic security.
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