# 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:** 50
**Author:** ![StringsandHammers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stringsandhammers/32/17933_2.png) [@StringsandHammers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StringsandHammers)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/981 "2026-06-22T13:46:20Z")
I think it’s right on brand that Trump wanted to make a name for himself by being the first president in a long while to add new land to the country but now it seems all that will happen is another forever war in the Middle East that will produce absolutely zero tangible benefits while gas prices explode along with our national debt. It’s the GOP playbook ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/982 "2026-07-04T01:28:03Z")
> **[Trump ‘has not forgotten’ about threats to seize Greenland, U.S. envoy says -...](https://ca.news.yahoo.com/trump-not-forgotten-threats-seize-160532799.html)** > > Jeff Landry, the special envoy to Greenland and the sitting governor of Louisiana, said Trump told him the U.S. needs to 'get Greenland' during a phone call last weekend. More from our envoy to Greenland, two days ago: > [@](#): > > “Let me tell you, from a strategic natural resources standpoint, that place is unbelievably important to us. I mean, there’s a great oil and gas reserve there. There are great rare earth minerals there. There’s great fishing there. I mean, it’s a great place, so we’re gonna get it.” ---
**Author:** ![dcbwhaley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcbwhaley/32/21437_2.png) [@dcbwhaley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dcbwhaley)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2026, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/983 "2026-07-04T09:09:23Z")
If the USA did attack Greenland - which is a member of NATO - article 6 would be invoked and all NATO members, including the USA would have to go to its defence. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2026, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/984 "2026-07-04T14:19:01Z")
Article 5. It’s fun to talk about NATO defending Greenland or Canada but to be absolutely clear, the rest of NATO cannot stop either. They do not have the naval capability to get past the US Navy and USAF. There is no conventional warfare possibility of the European Allies successfully stopping or even significantly slowing down such an attack, and they’re not gonna start a nuclear holocaust over it. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2026, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/985 "2026-07-04T15:00:56Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > More from our envoy to Greenland, two days ago: > > > [@](#): > > > > “Let me tell you, from a strategic natural resources standpoint, that place is unbelievably important to us. I mean, there’s a great oil and gas reserve there. There are great rare earth minerals there. There’s great fishing there. I mean, it’s a great place, so we’re gonna get it.” Our governor quoted here, Jeff Landry, is a Trump lickspittle that spouts off into the wind. His performative, empty words portend nothing. “_, [So] we’re gonna get it._” Sure, Jan. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2026, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/986 "2026-07-04T15:05:57Z")
We’re gonna get something. I kind of doubt that it’s Greenland. ---
**Author:** ![dcbwhaley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcbwhaley/32/21437_2.png) [@dcbwhaley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dcbwhaley)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/987 "2026-07-04T16:35:11Z")
American surely not some effete European language ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2026, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/988 "2026-07-05T05:01:13Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > More from our envoy to Greenland, two days ago: > > > [@](#): > > > > “Let me tell you, from a strategic natural resources standpoint, that place is unbelievably important to us. I mean, there’s a great oil and gas reserve there. There are great rare earth minerals there. There’s great fishing there. I mean, it’s a great place, so we’re gonna get it.” It’s really amazing to read, here in the year 2026, something that sounds like the braying of a prehistoric tribe of thieves. “We like, we take!”. The stain that Trumpism has inflicted on America’s reputation in the world is probably indelible. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2026, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/989 "2026-07-05T06:29:15Z")
Yeah, the fact that he was elected into his position - twice - means that the American public can’t claim “it’s not _our_ fault” and be believed. It’s not _all_ of our fault but collectively, we the public put him into power. And when Trump is gone, that same public will still be here and the world will know it. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2026, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/990 "2026-07-05T07:22:49Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > It’s really amazing to read, here in the year 2026, something that sounds like the braying of a prehistoric tribe of thieves. “We like, we take!”. The stain that Trumpism has inflicted on America’s reputation in the world is probably indelible. I wouldn’t say “indelible,” but it’s going to take a lot to erase it. Starting with a lot of apologies: “Sorry, Canada, Greenland, Panama, Iran, we hang our heads in shame at how we have upset you, our valuable allies.” Then removing all tariffs (well, Americans pay them anyway, not us, but it would be a nice gesture), and putting things back to how they were on January 19, 2025. Then saying that the US is going to replace all Trump-appointed ambassadors and diplomatic personnel from around the world, in favour of actual diplomats who can act diplomatically, smoothing over hiccups in inter-country relationships, instead of so-called “diplomats” who are in thrall to Trump, tell their host countries what they need to do to be in the US’s good graces, and are in no sense diplomatic. I could go on. It will take some time, measured in years, but I think that the US can rebuild its reputation. But as I said, it will take many years to rebuild what one man has taken down in just shy of two years. For starters, how about a Constitutional amendment saying that nobody can be President if they are over the age of 60? And they must have Congressional experience as a Representative or as a Senator? Mr. Trump would be immediately disqualified under those rules. Something to think about. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2026, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/991 "2026-07-05T07:30:29Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > For starters, how about a Constitutional amendment saying that nobody can be President if they are over the age of 60? And they must have Congressional experience as a Representative or as a Senator? Mr. Trump would be immediately disqualified under those rules. It also would have disqualified Biden, Bill Clinton, Carter, Eisenhower, and both Roosevelts. Nixon would’ve made the cut, though. If you want to impose new qualifications on the presidency, I’d be more in favor of requiring them to submit to independent financial and medical audits by a neutral party which must be released to the public in full. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2026, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/992 "2026-07-05T09:33:15Z")
For amendments, just getting rid of the Electoral College and having the President elected by popular vote would have solved the problem. Trump would not have been elected the first time and is unlikely to have run after that. However, since one party benefits by the Electoral College, getting rid of it would be difficult. A better idea is to make the DoJ into the fourth branch of the government where the AG is NOT appointed by the President. Instead have the AG be elected by the federal judge. Article 3 judges, that is. Or some other way of choosing them. Just make the DoJ be completely independent from the Executive branch. I think this would have a chance of being approved by both parties when the Trump era is over. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2026, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/993 "2026-07-05T09:42:53Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > A better idea is to make the DoJ into the fourth branch of the government where the AG is NOT appointed by the President. Instead have the AG be elected by the federal judge. Article 3 judges, that is. Or some other way of choosing them. Just make the DoJ be completely independent from the Executive branch. I think this would have a chance of being approved by both parties when the Trump era is over. I’ve toyed with some kind of system where the DOJ is under the supervision of the Supreme Court, and the justices are still appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, except that the pool of appointees is limited to a small group of nominees voted on by the whole body of active nationwide judges, or otherwise somehow selected by a neutral panel of legal professionals. There has to be some way of maintaining judicial neutrality without making the system unaccountable to the people. (I would also put a time limit on the Senate by imposing that if they refuse to vote on an appointment after a certain period of time - say 30 days or so - then the appointment is deemed approved just as if they had voted to pass it, so as to prevent a hostile Senate leadership from refusing to hold a vote a la Garland in 2016.) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2026, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/994 "2026-07-05T10:16:57Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’ve toyed with some kind of system where the DOJ is under the supervision of the Supreme Court No, you want it to be independent of all the other branches, including the judiciary. And have the ambit to investigate and prosecute anyone in the other branches, even the President, for any deeds, including those ostensibly part of his official actions, that violate a federal law. Yes, allow the President to be prosecuted while in office. None of this kingship crap where he’s above the law. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/995 "2026-07-05T15:48:06Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Starting with a lot of apologies: “Sorry, Canada, Greenland, Panama, Iran, we hang our heads in shame at how we have upset you, our valuable allies.” This would just be putting a band-aid on a cancerous tumour. It’s going to take at least a generation of “normalcy” before other countries even start to consider the US to be a reliable partner. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/996 "2026-07-05T16:15:02Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > This would just be putting a band-aid on a cancerous tumour. It’s going to take at least a generation of “normalcy” before other countries even start to consider the US to be a reliable partner. Yup. I live here and don’t trust us. This is like finding your Wife pointing a gun at you. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/997 "2026-07-05T16:32:10Z")
Unfortunately that just elevates the Grand Inquisitor to the supreme level of power rather than the nominal head of the executive branch. There’s a reason why English common law ended up making the judiciary independent: so that ultimate control of the criminal justice system is in the hands of people who (presumably) have no political motives. An autonomous DoJ would end up becoming something like the infamous Star Chamber. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/998 "2026-07-05T16:54:19Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > This would just be putting a band-aid on a cancerous tumour. It’s going to take at least a generation of “normalcy” before other countries even start to consider the US to be a reliable partner. I’m pretty sure @Spoons realizes starting out with an apology is just the first on a long list of things the United States will need to do over the course of many years to regain the trust of our allies. Assuming the United States are even willing to go down that route, it’s going to take a long, long time to repair the damage done. I certainly believe it _can_ be repaired, but it really depends on whether Americans as a whole are interested in repairing anything. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/999 "2026-07-05T17:37:32Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > A better idea is to make the DoJ into the fourth branch of the government where the AG is NOT appointed by the President. Instead have the AG be elected by the federal judge. Article 3 judges, that is. Or some other way of choosing them. Just make the DoJ be completely independent from the Executive branch. I think this would have a chance of being approved by both parties when the Trump era is over. That is an intriguing suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/1000 "2026-07-05T17:47:46Z")
Surely they could do something to make Greenland costly to hold, besides supporting the insurgency with arms, intelligence, and special forces, etc. (all of which goes without saying.) Economic and trade sanctions have dealt a meaningful blow to countries like Russia. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=51)