# Trump now wants to use military force to take the Panama Canal and Greenland **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 7, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691 "2025-01-07T20:27:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 36
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/701 "2026-01-11T18:05:48Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > There’s a line in a movie or a TV show where an authoritarian officer(?) is asked by his men, ‘What do you want?’ He says, ‘I want you to… like me.’ Catch 22. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/702 "2026-01-11T19:07:19Z")
“We must take Greenland, whatever the cost”… Even if the cost is a complete collapse of American power and prestige on the international stage? ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/703 "2026-01-11T19:10:53Z")
The Arctic is becoming more important because of melting ice opening new shipping routes. Melting ice?? Republicans don’t believe in global warming?? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/704 "2026-01-11T19:16:45Z")
> [@Icerigger](#): > > Republicans don’t believe in global warming?? I think they just don’t believe we should try to do anything to slow or stop it. Regarding Greenland, how is it so vital not our national security? We haven’t owned it before, and I’ve always felt relatively secure. I wouldn’t feel any safer with Old Glory flying over Greenland. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/705 "2026-01-11T19:19:38Z")
> [@Icerigger](#): > > Republicans don’t believe in global warming?? It isn’t happening, it isn’t our fault that it’s happening, and it’s a good thing that it’s happening. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/706 "2026-01-11T21:40:14Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Catch 22. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/707 "2026-01-12T16:09:58Z")
Trump is scraping bottom. His Surinam boat murders are a dead end. His Venezuela adventure is a total bomb. He doesn’t own the oil, He does not have any control of the government. The US military did not invade. US oil is distancing itself from anything related to Trump/Venezuela. Trumps’ public statements indicate that he has no understanding of what happened in Venezuela or of the current status of the oil in transit or for that matter of his current situation. Trump is a floating piece of powerless political debris whose removal is not addressed in our Constitution His graphic novel grasp of reality is insufficient for his ambitions. Consider his current incursion into Minnesota. As his success claims vanish, Trump will howl ever greater threats into the wind, Venezuela, Panama, Greenland and Iran, resulting in ever greater failures. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/708 "2026-01-12T16:32:36Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > resulting in ever greater failures. And sadly, more deaths. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/709 "2026-01-13T15:02:09Z")
A Republican representative has introduced legislation that would [allow Trump to annex Greenland](https://www.axios.com/2026/01/12/trump-greenland-annex-republican-bill-congress). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/710 "2026-01-13T15:39:48Z")
What is the name of the Representative? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/711 "2026-01-13T15:42:04Z")
> Rep. Randy Fine, a staunch Trump loyalist from Florida {…} ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/712 "2026-01-13T15:44:41Z")
Randy Fine (R, of course! - FL6): [https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7012](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7012) And the very next introduced bill from Rep Jimmy Gomez (D - CA34) prohibiting the same: [https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7013](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7013) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/713 "2026-01-13T15:44:49Z")
Thanks. Here’s a non-’paywalled’ link. > **[Randy Fine seeks to annex Greenland and make it a state](https://floridapolitics.com/archives/773265-randy-fine-seeks-to-annex-greenland-and-make-it-a-state/)** > > The Atlantic Coast Republican wants the administration to inform Congress any steps needed to expedite the process. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/714 "2026-01-13T15:54:12Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > they want to move quickly to seize the island before Russia or China makes a move. Do these guys seriously think that Russia and/or China are actually interested in “Taking over” Greenland? Neither of them even have the capacity to project an invasion force that far, even discounting any actin NATO might take to defend Greenland. Do they really believe this nonsense? I can understand lying about this in public as an excuse to invade Greenland, but this is someone talking privately to a reporter. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/715 "2026-01-13T20:04:59Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Do these guys seriously think that Russia and/or China are actually interested in “Taking over” Greenland? Neither of them even have the capacity to project an invasion force that far, even discounting any actin NATO might take to defend Greenland. Do they really believe this nonsense? The Right is very prone towards projection. _They_ want to conquer Greenland, therefore _everyone else_ must want to as well. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/716 "2026-01-14T05:59:52Z")
There is a minimum population to qualify for statehood. Cult members tend to be mathematically challenged though. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/717 "2026-01-14T06:53:07Z")
Yeah, that’s what I wonder too. I mean, Russia/USSR have had well over half a century in which they could have made their move on Greenland. They never did. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/718 "2026-01-14T14:58:10Z")
But, again, China would love for the US to annex Greenland. It would give them a pretext to finally move on Taiwan. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/719 "2026-01-14T17:34:49Z")
Also Russia would love for the US to annex Greenland. It would fracture NATO and distract from their ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. So the two winners here: China and Russia ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/720 "2026-01-14T20:04:56Z")
> **[Adam Schwarz (@adamjschwarz.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/adamjschwarz.bsky.social/post/3mcddbisjmc2u)** > > Greenland PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen: > > "If we have to choose between the US & Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU." > > "Greenland does not want to be owned by the US. Greenland... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=35) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=37)