Outgoing Nebraska Representative Don Bacon publicly criticized President Donald Trump following the release of a letter addressed to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The letter, which contained controversial remarks about Greenland and Denmark’s ownership of the territory, led Bacon to label the president’s conduct as “very disrespectful.”
In his retweet of a New York Times article detailing the letter, Bacon expressed his dismay, stating that the entire situation was “very embarrassing conduct.” In the letter, Trump lamented Denmark’s refusal to award him the Nobel Peace Prize and declared that he no longer felt obligated to prioritize peace considerations. He controversially questioned Denmark’s “right of ownership” over Greenland, suggesting that historical claims were flimsy at best.
Trump’s letter began with a pointed message: “Dear Jonas, Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.” He continued with assertions about security threats from Russia and China, arguing for “Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”
Støre confirmed the authenticity of the letter amidst initial speculation. Bacon’s remarks place him among a minority of Republicans who oppose Trump’s aggressive stance towards Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark. He warned that any military action aimed at Greenland could jeopardize Trump’s presidency.
In an interview with the Omaha World-Herald, Bacon indicated that House Republicans might need to consider impeachment if the president pursued military options regarding Greenland. “I’ll be candid with you. There are so many Republicans mad about this,” he remarked. He stressed that an invasion would be a “disastrous idea” and warned of catastrophic consequences for U.S. relations with its allies.
Bacon emphasized the importance of Republican unity, stating, “The off-ramp is realizing Republicans aren’t going to tolerate this and he’s going to have to back off.” Despite his strong stance, he refrained from confirming how he would vote on a potential impeachment related to Greenland actions, saying, “I don’t want to give you a definite yes or no, but I would lean that way.”
The former representative, who has announced he will not seek reelection, described Trump’s rhetoric as “utter buffoonery.” He reiterated the sentiment that invading a friendly nation would be a significant misstep, calling it “the worst idea ever” from his perspective. The political fallout from this controversy continues to unfold as reactions from both sides of the aisle emerge.