A bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers traveled to Denmark this week in an effort to reassure a key NATO ally and underscore congressional support for transatlantic unity, as President Donald Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland continues to provoke political controversy, diplomatic unease, and widespread public protest across Denmark.
The congressional visit comes at a particularly sensitive moment in U.S.-European relations, with Trump’s rhetoric surrounding Greenland drawing criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, as well as alarm from Danish and Greenlandic leaders. While the White House has framed Greenland as a strategic national security priority, many lawmakers and foreign officials warn that the approach risks undermining long-standing alliances at a time of heightened global instability.
A Rare Bipartisan Effort to Signal Stability
The delegation included members of both chambers of Congress and spanned party lines, though it was predominantly Democratic. Among the Republicans participating were Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Democratic participants included Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, Rep. Sara Jacobs of California, and Rep. Sarah McBride of Delaware.
Several members of the delegation are expected to continue on to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum in Davos, where geopolitical tensions, global trade, and Arctic security are expected to feature prominently in discussions.
Ahead of the visit, Shaheen released a statement emphasizing the delegation’s goal of reinforcing the U.S.-Denmark partnership and reaffirming shared values.
“The trip will highlight bipartisan support for our allies in the Kingdom of Denmark and discuss how to deepen this partnership in line with our shared principles of sovereignty and self-determination,” Shaheen said, adding that the meetings would also address global security challenges, Arctic defense concerns, and trade relations.
Reaffirming NATO Ties Amid Uncertainty
Sen. Chris Coons, who led the delegation, underscored the importance of the visit by describing Denmark as one of America’s oldest and most reliable NATO allies. Speaking publicly in Copenhagen, Coons said the purpose of the trip was to make clear that Congress remains firmly committed to Denmark, Greenland, and the broader NATO alliance.
“In an increasingly unstable world, where our adversaries are coordinating more closely than ever, our alliances are more important than ever,” Coons wrote in a social media post following meetings with Danish and Greenlandic officials.
The visit served as a counterweight to recent White House rhetoric that has unsettled European leaders. While Trump has repeatedly asserted that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security, critics argue that framing the issue in terms of acquisition rather than cooperation has fueled unnecessary diplomatic friction.
Protests Erupt Across Denmark
As the U.S. delegation met with officials, thousands of protesters gathered in Copenhagen and other Danish cities to voice opposition to any U.S. effort to acquire Greenland, a semiautonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Demonstrators waved Greenlandic flags and carried banners reading “Hands Off Greenland” and “Greenland Is Not for Sale.”
According to Reuters, chants echoed through city squares as demonstrators expressed solidarity with Greenlanders and frustration with Washington’s posture. The protests were organized by a range of civil society groups, including organizations representing Greenlanders living in Denmark.
Julie Rademacher, chair of Uagut, an advocacy group for Greenlanders in Denmark, told Reuters that the situation had thrust Greenland into a global struggle over democratic values.
“Greenland and the Greenlanders have involuntarily become the front line in the fight for democracy and human rights,” Rademacher said, adding that the demonstrations were meant to send a message not just to Washington, but to the international community at large.
Trump’s Tariffs Add Fuel to the Fire
The delegation’s trip began just before President Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on Denmark and several other European countries, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to pressure Copenhagen into negotiations over Greenland. The announcement further inflamed tensions, reinforcing fears among European leaders that economic coercion could become a tool in territorial disputes.
Trump has argued that Greenland’s strategic location and natural resources make it indispensable to U.S. defense interests, particularly as Russia and China increase their activity in the Arctic. White House officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, have publicly stated that control of Greenland is “essential” for American national security.
However, many lawmakers both in Washington and abroad have questioned the necessity of such an approach.
Congressional Pushback on the Strategy
During a speech at the University of Copenhagen, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen warned that Trump’s rhetoric risks weakening the very alliances that underpin U.S. global power.
“That rhetoric doesn’t just undermine our bilateral relationship,” Shaheen said. “It undermines the NATO alliance at a time when our adversaries seek to benefit from division.”
Shaheen argued that the United States already has established mechanisms to safeguard its Arctic interests through cooperation with Denmark and Greenland, making threats or coercive tactics unnecessary.
“Anything the president might want whether it’s expanded U.S. military basing, missile defense, or access to critical minerals Denmark and Greenland have made clear they are willing to discuss partnership,” she said. “The threats are not only unnecessary; they’re counterproductive.”
Diverging Views Within the Alliance
Despite European backlash, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker defended Washington’s focus on Greenland in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. Whitaker argued that Arctic security is a core American defense priority and suggested that some European responses have been exaggerated.
“Europe has a tendency to overreact,” Whitaker said, while acknowledging that communication and coordination with allies remain essential.
France’s announcement of new joint military exercises with Denmark has been interpreted by some analysts as a signal of European resolve to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity within NATO.
American Public Opinion Remains Skeptical
While the debate plays out on the global stage, American voters appear deeply divided or outright opposed to the idea of acquiring Greenland. A Quinnipiac University poll found that 86% of voters oppose using military force to take control of the island. The survey also showed that Americans oppose purchasing Greenland by a 55% to 37% margin.
Those numbers suggest that Trump’s proposal lacks broad domestic support, adding another layer of complexity to an already contentious issue.
A Delicate Moment for Diplomacy
As U.S. lawmakers return from Copenhagen, the message they carried was clear: Congress remains committed to Denmark, Greenland, and the principles of sovereignty and alliance-based security. Whether that message is enough to ease tensions sparked by the White House remains uncertain.