# Why threatening to go to war with Denmark may be a bad idea **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 20, 2026, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838 "2026-01-20T03:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/21 "2026-01-20T12:59:32Z")
“he’s threatening to attack our allies” is at the top of my list of why his recent statements have been really bad for the US and for the world. But there are plenty of other reasons. It sure does look like Putin is influencing Trump. If NATO has to defend against the US, it’s not going to have as much energy to defend Ukraine, just for the appetizer. But also, i think Trump wants to be remembered as a president who did a big thing. Expanding the US into a giant territory (bets on whether he’s looking at Mercator projections of the world?) would give him a legacy. I don’t think he understands that he might fail. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/22 "2026-01-20T13:09:03Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > This all comes down to “what is in this for Trump?” Money, revenge, and/or bragging rights. And attention directed away from the Epstein files. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/23 "2026-01-20T13:18:35Z")
Trump claims that he must take the world’s largest island to protect it from Russian invasion. Here’s a translated excerpt from the Russian _Rossiyskaya Gazeta_. Does it sound like Putin is upset about Trump’s plans? > [@](#): > > Standing in the way of the US president’s historic breakthrough is the stubbornness of Copenhagen and the mock solidarity of intransigent European countries, including so-called friends of America, Britain and France. Europe does not need the American greatness that Trump is promoting. Brussels is counting on ‘drowning’ the US president in the midterm congressional elections, on preventing him from concluding the greatest deal of his life. > > If Trump annexes Greenland by July 4 2026, when America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, he will go down in history as a figure who asserted the greatness of the United States. > > With Greenland, the US becomes the second largest country in the world after Russia, surpassing Canada in area. For Americans, that’s on par with such planetary events as the abolition of slavery by Abraham Lincoln in 1862 or the territorial conquests of the Napoleonic Wars. If, thanks to Trump, Greenland becomes part of America…for sure the American people will not forget such an achievement. > … > It is dangerous for the American president to back down over Greenland. This would weaken the position of the Republican Party in the midterm elections and likely result in a Democrat majority on Capitol Hill with the ensuing consequences for Trump. Whereas a rapid annexation of Greenland before the elections can change this political trend. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/24 "2026-01-20T13:43:59Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > And attention directed away from the Epstein files. I don’t even know why he cares about that anymore. He’ll never face consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/25 "2026-01-20T13:49:35Z")
It appears to be negative attention of a kind that he doesn’t thrive on. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/26 "2026-01-20T13:52:17Z")
I don’t understand attacking other people who _agree with you_ that attacking Greenland is a really bad idea. Their list of reasons may not be ordered precisely the same as yours, but they are still your ~cough cough~ _allies._ Why must everyone weight their anxiety about this monumentally stupid, wasteful, greedy, disaster of a “policy” the exact same as you. We all agree it’s a horrible idea. Does it matter that much which perspective someone sees it from? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/27 "2026-01-20T14:11:29Z")
It does seem like an odd primary reason for the OP to fix upon. For sure, the lack of available, affordable insulin would be a very serious concern for those who need it, but to make it the primary reason why going to war with our NATO allies would be a bad idea? I mean, if the OP had been ‘_One of the many reasons_ why threatening to go to war with Denmark may be a bad idea’ or ‘_A possibly overlooked reason_ why threatening to go to war with Denmark may be a bad idea’ it would make more sense. The OP even ends with ‘Anything to add or subtract?’. Yes, _ **plenty** _ to add. Know what else would affect the availablity and affordability of insulin, as well as every other medication? Getting in a war with our former NATO allies, having our economy collapse, and becoming an international pariah on par with rogue states like North Korea. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/28 "2026-01-20T14:23:09Z")
No, I was asking why the _Chinese_ would care about the North Atlantic Treaty Org? The non-US members aren’t exactly relevant to them militarily. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/29 "2026-01-20T14:27:38Z")
**Moderating:** > [@Dissonance](#): > > Good christ, how self-involved in global politics effects on your own person can you get? Remember the basic rule, attack the post and not the poster. This was attacking the poster. Please refrain in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/30 "2026-01-20T14:58:40Z")
I didn’t think @Czarcasm meant it is the main or only reason. He didn’t outright say the biggest reason, but I understood it was implied. He did say dump was attacking Americans. He is attacking Americans with this lunacy not just with pharmaceuticals, but in about a million other ways. Perhaps I read it too broadly? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/31 "2026-01-20T15:08:47Z")
Well, they did end their post with ‘Anything to add or subtract?’ which seemed odd, but maybe I initially took it wrong, and it was meant as a mildly sarcastic invitation to discuss all the other many, _ **many** _ reasons why it would be a bad idea. As in “I can’t think of _any_ other reason why it would be a bad idea; can any of you? 🙄 🤷‍♂️” ---
**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 20, 2026, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/32 "2026-01-20T15:15:12Z")
I think that any sane geopolitical philosophy would start with “it’s a bad idea to threaten to go to war with your allies”, as a fundamental axiom. Why is it a bad idea to threaten to go to war with Denmark? Because it’s threatening to go to war with Denmark. Period, enough said. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/33 "2026-01-20T15:31:39Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > What would he care about NATO, specifically? I’m far from an expert. But if NATO collapses, Europe is going to be feeling significantly less safe from Russian incursions, and NATO’s collapse will also be associated with a collapse of trade agreements between Europe and the US. Both of these create power vacuums that China can take advantage of. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/34 "2026-01-20T15:37:27Z")
> [@Dissonance](#): > > Good christ, how self-involved in global politics effects on your own person can you get? As I see it, the world balances on a knife’s edge right now. Trump is only able to do what he’s doing because of his razor-thin majority in Congress; and that majority depends on the continuing support of a handful of politicians. If three Republican House members removed their support, and four Republican senators removed their support, all of this could be brought to a crashing halt. Of the 8 billion people on earth, literally less than one in a billion need to change their voting patterns in order to change world history. There are 261 people in that pool of Republicans who are eligible to make that change. Most of them are True Believers, sure–but there are some that are vacillating. The more pressure that can be brought on them, the likelier it is that seven of them will change their minds and stop this madness. And if that change happens because diabetic Americans are terrified about their insulin, _that’s fine_. I don’t give a goddamn why they change their minds; any pressure on them to do so is good. ---
**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 20, 2026, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/35 "2026-01-20T15:50:59Z")
Or, even, if some of those congresspeople are themselves diabetic, and are worried about their own personal supply of insulin. Sure, with their means, they might be able to get black-market insulin… but do they want to bet their lives on that? ---
**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 20, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/36 "2026-01-20T15:51:15Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Someone needs to tell Mad King Donald that if he attacks Greenland they’ll cut off his Ozempic. _\>Canadians start taking notes on new drugs to smuggle\<_ ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/37 "2026-01-20T15:58:12Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Trump is only able to do what he’s doing because of his razor-thin majority in Congress; and that majority depends on the continuing support of a handful of politicians. If trump lost his majority in Congress it would prevent him from getting away with anything and everything he wants to do, but isn’t he already operating largely by Presidential decree and bypassing Congress altogether for the most part? The Venezuala invasion, incursion, whatever you want to call it, was executed without the knowledge of Congress. Invading Greenland without getting permission from Congress per the War Powers act would clearly be illegal and unconstitutional, but who’s going to call him out on it if he just goes ahead and does it? ---
**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:** [January 20, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/38 "2026-01-20T16:02:49Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Invading Greenland without getting permission from Congress per the War Powers act would clearly be illegal and unconstitutional, but who’s going to call him out on it if he just goes ahead and does it? Congress is supposed to. That they haven’t been doing it doesn’t mean that they can’t. (Though I’m certainly not holding my breath that they will.) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/39 "2026-01-20T16:07:41Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > But also, i think Trump wants to be remembered as a president who did a big thing. Expanding the US into a giant territory (bets on whether he’s looking at Mercator projections of the world?) would give him a legacy. I don’t think he understands that he might fail. Not to mention that a future president will give it back. The next Democrat elected, certainly, but almost any Republican that succeeds him, too. Even Vance, probably - he may be evil and weak, but he’s not crazy. The United States’ occupation of Greenland will be remembered as a short, embarrassing period in American history. If we don’t all die first, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838/40 "2026-01-20T16:09:59Z")
> [@solost](#): > > If trump lost his majority in Congress it would prevent him from getting away with anything and everything he wants to do, but isn’t he already operating largely by Presidential decree and bypassing Congress altogether for the most part? Sort of. He’s not doing what he’s supposed to be doing, _because he knows Congress won’t say anything_. Congress can absolutely hold him to account. That requires a majority vote. Surely at least 2% of Republicans in the House know that this is batshit insane and risks another world war. But they’re scared. They need to put on their big kid pants and show some courage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-threatening-to-go-to-war-with-denmark-may-be-a-bad-idea/1026838.md?page=3)