# 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:** 39
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/761 "2026-01-16T21:15:32Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Really, really stupid already happened. A couple of times. Including insurection. I mean something really stupid in that it isn’t a big deal compared to everything else that has happened. We’ll turn to each other and say, “_This_ is what brought MAGA down?” We’ll be happy, sure, but puzzled. ---
**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 16, 2026, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/762 "2026-01-16T21:26:26Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I’m watching the USA with the classic role of USSR. That’s because the USA is in fact, a subsidiary of Russia now. I think that Putin is calling the shots. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/763 "2026-01-16T21:27:23Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > That’s because the USA is in fact, a subsidiary of Russia now. Not yet, but the nation is certainly compromised by having key Russian assets in government, that’s absolutely true. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/764 "2026-01-16T21:42:20Z")
If I were the Prime Minister of Denmark I would issue a statement like thus: > [@hypothetical](#): > > Greenland is ours and shall remain so. Greenland is not for sale at any price. Nor will we allow her to be taken. > > Donald Trump has threatened to use force to take her. If he tries then we shall go to war. > > We know that Denmark cannot stand against the might of the American military. But we don’t need to. If Trump invades, then we shall not go to war against America. We shall go to war against Donald Trump. > > Our military has many men and women trained in demolition. They are ready and able to attack and destroy Trump properties and businesses. These shall be military operations against our legitimate enemy, carried out according to international military law. > > We only wish to hurt Trump. We would take every precaution to evacuate all people from the buildings before we destroy them. > > Mar-a-Largo will be destroyed. Trump hotels will be demolished. Trump golf courses will gain a lot of extra holes. Say goodbye to Trump Tower. > > To all other people - if you have a planned holiday in a Trump hotel, perhaps you should change them. Any businesses with offices in Trump Tower, maybe you should start thinking about relocating. Just a bit of advice. > > And when Trump has lost everything, when he has been reduced to begging for spare change in the street, that’s when our snipers will come for him. ---
**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 16, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/765 "2026-01-16T21:51:44Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > That’s because the USA is in fact, a subsidiary of Russia now. I think that Putin is calling the shots. I don’t think so. Oh, Trump is a “Russian asset” I’m sure but Trump is just too egomaniacal and even more important, _irrational_ for Putin to tell him what to do. At least, for Putin to do so and rely on Trump to actually do what he’s told. Trump is too unreliable to be anyone’s puppet. Trump is a hand grenade, not a puppet. Putin and other enemies of the US helped get him into power not to achieve specific goals, but simply because Trump would _blow things up._ And he _has._ Still stupid on Putin’s part, since he’s handed control of a nuclear arsenal to a senile lunatic. But Putin is obviously both short sighted and overconfident, as demonstrated by his Ukraine disaster. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/766 "2026-01-16T22:07:06Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > “We got the Yurpeens to step up and do what they wouldn’t have done to protect Greenland otherwise” > [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > This is not how DJT thinks at all. But it is how a lot of MAGAs think. I’ve seen a lot of posts expressing this idea in the wild. They continue to believe Trump is playing 5D chess no matter that they are proven wrong every single time. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/767 "2026-01-16T22:09:44Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Oh, Trump is a “Russian asset” I’m sure but Trump is just too egomaniacal and even more important, _irrational_ for Putin to tell him what to do. At least, for Putin to do so and rely on Trump to actually do what he’s told. Trump is too unreliable to be anyone’s puppet. Trump’s not the only one though. Tulsi Gabbard, who is Director of National Intelligence (I know, WTF?!) shows clear signs of being a Russian asset as well. > **[Tulsi Gabbard's views on Russia shaped in part by Kremlin propaganda outlet,...](https://abcnews.go.com/US/gabbards-views-russia-shaped-part-kremlin-propaganda-outlet/story?id=116430097)** > > Former aides of Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump's pick for director of national intelligence, say her views on Russia may have been shaped by consuming Kremlin propaganda. And way back in 2020, Hillary Clinton accused Gabbard of being a Russian asset, and Gabbard sued her for defamation before dropping the suit. > **[Tulsi Gabbard drops defamation lawsuit against Hillary Clinton | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/27/politics/tulsi-gabbard-clinton-lawsuit)** > > Rep. Tulsi Gabbard dropped the defamation lawsuit she filed against Hillary Clinton on Wednesday, ending a short-lived legal battle where the congresswoman contended the former secretary of state and Democratic presidential nominee “lied about her... I do agree that the entire country itself isn’t “in fact” under Russian control (which is what being a subsidiary is), even if there are key people likely working under Russian orders. ---
**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 17, 2026, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/768 "2026-01-17T00:07:02Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > And way back in 2020, Hillary Clinton accused Gabbard of being a Russian asset, and Gabbard sued her for defamation before dropping the suit. I suspect someone clued Gabbard in that the discovery phase of this lawsuit might prove to be… somewhat problematic. ---
**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 17, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/769 "2026-01-17T00:09:27Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I do agree that the entire country itself isn’t “in fact” under Russian control (which is what being a subsidiary is), even if there are key people likely working under Russian orders. Not the whole country, just the presidency, the cabinet, the advisors, the majority of Republicans in Congress, some of the Democrat in Congress, a majority of the Supreme Court and many in the mass media. ---
**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 17, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/770 "2026-01-17T00:19:37Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Well, where the eff are they? They need to be stepping up and speaking out! ### **Sen. Dan Sullivan (R‑Alaska)** - Urged the administration to **“shut down the Greenland talk,”** noting Denmark is a critical ally under existing treaties ### **Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R‑South Dakota)** - Rejected the idea outright, saying there is **“not an appetite”** for any of the options Trump floated, including military force. - Later emphasized he sees **no scenario** where military action is appropriate. ### **Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R‑Alaska)** - Said Greenland should be viewed **“as our ally, not as an asset.”** - Reiterated that Congress has **“no support… to acquire Greenland in any way.”** - Warned that taking Greenland by force would harm **U.S. national security and alliances** ### **Sen. Thom Tillis (R‑North Carolina)** - Said Congress would unite to block any **illegal or military action** , warning it would trigger a **war powers resolution** and survive a veto. - Reinforced bipartisan resistance to any invasion scenario I’ll leave out Susan Collins, although I’m sure everyone is surprised to hear she’s “very concerned.” ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/771 "2026-01-17T05:19:54Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Leaving aside the argument Trump can do whatever he wants, is “invade and conquer Greenland” a legitimately legal order that must be obeyed absent an actual declaration of war? This is a question I’d love to have an answer to. If I were to guess that answer is most likely to be “it depends?” I don’t claim to know, but I’d love to see someone with more knowledge and expertise take a stab at it. Over the past year I’ve often wondered what would happen if Trump ordered a nakedly, evil and cruel and stupid invasion of a NATO ally. A full on “bombing campaign followed with a ground invasion and holding land” sort of war. Something so clearly stupid, evil, and shortsighted that the military brass is actually tempted simply to say “No.” The obvious answer of course is, we now have the military openly in rebellion against civilian leadership. In whole or in part. Not a good look under any circumstances. Is our military going to open fire on NATO allies in contravention of God knows how many treaty and alliance obligations? Simply because Trump is a greedy venal toddler throwing a tantrum and being egged on by Moscow and Stephen Miller? Exactly how far does “illegal orders” go, and how seriously does the top military leadership actually take legal and ethical obligations outside of direct command? Call it hyperbole, but the idea American soldiers trading fire with UK, French, and Danish military over the fate of Greenland isn’t entirely within the realm of complete fantasy is terrifying. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/772 "2026-01-17T05:25:55Z")
I would think any general who has made the decision to stand in open rebellion against a criminal president would not go only half way in. When you aim at the king, you better not miss. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/773 "2026-01-17T05:40:02Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I would think any general who has made the decision to stand in open rebellion against a criminal president would not go only half way in. Hegseth is retiring or otherwise getting rid of generals even vaguely suspected of being potential troublemakers. This is a common strongman regime pattern and is why coups often are led by colonels. Most of the time, though, soldiers do what they were ordered to do. U.S. Grant famously wrote to his mother about the great injustice of the Mexican War, but he still fought. ---
**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 17, 2026, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/774 "2026-01-17T05:43:48Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Hegseth is retiring or otherwise getting rid of generals even vaguely suspected of being potential troublemakers. > > This is a common strongman regime pattern and is why coups often are led by colonels. And also one reason why the military of authoritarian regimes tends to be incompetent; it’s run by people whose qualifications are loyalty to the regime and zero scruples. Not being good at the job. ---
**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 17, 2026, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/775 "2026-01-17T05:44:30Z")
Maybe I’m being naive or too optimistic, but I’m pretty sure that, unlike the snatch operation of Maduro, enough generals/commanders would refuse to invade Greenland that it couldn’t even get off the ground to start with. They must have already been talking in private among themselves and built a consensus before Trump even gives the order. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/776 "2026-01-17T05:53:06Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Hegseth is retiring or otherwise getting rid of generals even vaguely suspected of being potential troublemakers Remember that meeting he called with all the generals, the one where no one made sound while he yelled at them? If Whiskey Pete was able to read a room, he would have to fire every single one of them. He can’t, so he won’t. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/777 "2026-01-17T06:00:16Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Remember that meeting he called with all the generals, the one where no one made sound while he yelled at them? If Whiskey Pete was able to read a room, he would have to fire every single one of them. He can’t, so he won’t. They are up or out in a few years. And: > **[Pete Hegseth fires yet another military leader as the Pentagon purge intensifies](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/maddow-blog-pete-hegseth-fires-124045411.html)** > > Each of the firings is important, but let’s not miss the forest for the trees: A scandal-plagued former Fox News host is destabilizing the U.S. military. Even though a Greenland invasion would be plain evil, it would be arguably legal under U.S. law. The president can argue that the War Powers Act gives him at least 60 days. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/778 "2026-01-17T06:01:39Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > They are up or out in a few years This zit is going to pop before then. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/779 "2026-01-17T07:33:11Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > There’s got to be a bridge too far…but I’ve long stopped guessing where that point might be. I’m no longer wholly convinced there is a point. But when we get there, my guess it’ll be something really, really stupid that starts an avalanche against Trump/MAGA. That’s what I predicted a few months back in another thread, that it’s going to be something stupid that breaks the spell, like him pissing his pants on live television, possibly while meeting with a foreign leader. I fear that if that does happen, though, his fanbase will do a “Billy Madison,” and insist that it’s cool to pee your pants, and start wetting their own drawers in public. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/780 "2026-01-17T14:42:00Z")
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