Why does Trump want to take over? How big is Greenland compared to the United States? What you need to know about the autonomous territory of Denmark.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that “anything less” than US control of Greenland is “unacceptable,” arguing the United States needs the territory for national security purposes, which could in turn strengthen NATO.

In his first year back in office, Trump bullied NATO into higher defense spending, demanded Europe pay for all future defense aid for Ukraine and forced the EU to accept higher tariffs. But his renewed saber rattling about taking Greenland has created even deeper panic in European capitals in 2026.

President Donald Trump's Greenland proposal faces American opposition and strains NATO relations as European troops deploy amid the $700 billion acquisition plan.

TIME spoke to legal experts about whether Trump could legally pull the U.S. out of NATO and the wider implications.

Thune’s predecessor as Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, spoke out in a floor speech where he said military action against Greenland would be “an unprecedented act of strategic self-harm” that risks “incinerating” NATO alliances.

In an interview, GOP Rep. Don Bacon slammed the president's efforts to take over Greenland, warning it could lead to his impeachment.