Trump’s Greenland Grab Ignores One Crucial Detail: He Doesn’t Have the Authority

The president of the United States is the chief executive in a government of divided powers. The president is not the sovereign, and he has no authority to confer American sovereignty on foreign territory.

Moreover, as we discussed in the context of the Trump plan to take a 25 percent cut of the profits on Nvidia’s microchip exports and the equity shares he is taking in private corporations — and as I imagine we’ll be discussing presently on the latest announced scheme to seize and sell Venezuelan oil (see our editorial) — the executive branch has no constitutional authority to raise revenue or buy property in the absence of a clear delegation of authority by Congress.

https://archive.ph/tFxWT#selection-827.0-839.152

As the author notes, when Thomas Jefferson was offered what became the Louisiana Purchase, he agonized over whether the Constitution allowed the United States to acquire any territory. He decided that it did but only if ratified by a treaty. It would not even have occurred to him that the President alone by fiat could acquire territory for the United States whether by conquest or purchase.

Better Trump takes it than the Chinese. Of course this is triggering for the Chinese.

12 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Better Trump takes it than the Chinese. Of course this is triggering for the Chinese.

How exactly will he manage that if there is no Constitutional route to do so?

7 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

How exactly will he manage that if there is no Constitutional route to do so?

Put down his double cheeseburger and get on the blower to his Secretary of War and say "Pete mate, after you finished your G&T please invade and conquer Greenland for me".

"Sure Boss, easy peasy"

Don't overthink and get lost in the minutiae.

Trump Doesn't Have Constitutional Authority to Take Greenland

He doesn't have the right to bomb sovereign nations - but he does.
He doesn't have the authority to summarily execute people - but he does.
He doesn't have the authority to commit piracy on the high seas - but he does.
He doesn't have the authority to invade a country and kidnap their leader - but he does.

Until another super power steps up, he'll continue to do whatever he wants. There are no consequences. And he'll escalate.

And what he does to the peasants overseas? He will eventually bring home to the peasants in the US. Oh look, he already has - his ICE Agent just murdered a protestor by shooting her in the face - three times. Wait - it's just beginning. More coming - for sure!

Be happy you live here.

I would love to live in the US right now. What a time to be alive! Trump is finally getting things done.

Just as an aside. You have no idea how much power DJT as POTUS has when the US is threatened by foreign powers and insurrectionists. He too swore to uphold the constitution and keep the US and US citizens safe.

Also, Obama deported over 3 million people and bombed or droned numerous people in other countries. Do you remember the wedding he vapourised and killed and maimed many people. Did you complain then? Bet you didn't.

33 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Better Trump takes it than the Chinese. Of course this is triggering for the Chinese.

what is your basis for saying the chinese will take it. How do you propose they get there? They have to sail through the NW Passage which is Canadian territory. Are you proposing that they fly in, which would also require passing through US and Canadian airspace to get to Greenland. The Chinese cannot just show up and say hello we are here.

Same for the Russians. There is a US military base on the Island. It is covered by satellite surveillance.

The US can't just take Greenland either because it is owned by the local inuits and they are still part of a Denmark. Trump won't convince Congress to approve any occupation.

3 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Better Trump takes it than the Chinese. Of course this is triggering for the Chinese.

And their Social media bots and shills.

2 hours ago, rasg said:

Do you remember the wedding he vapourised and killed and maimed many people. Did you complain then? Bet you didn't.

They gave him a Nobel Prize, and he showed his appreciation by murdering an American citizen.

2 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

what is your basis for saying the chinese will take it. How do you propose they get there? They have to sail through the NW Passage which is Canadian territory. Are you proposing that they fly in, which would also require passing through US and Canadian airspace to get to Greenland. The Chinese cannot just show up and say hello we are here.

Same for the Russians. There is a US military base on the Island. It is covered by satellite surveillance.

The US can't just take Greenland either because it is owned by the local inuits and they are still part of a Denmark. Trump won't convince Congress to approve any occupation.

There was never going to be an occupation. Trump will do a financial deal with the people. The people don't have much loyalty to the Danes Read about the history between Denmark and Greenland. It is shocking.

5 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

They gave him a Nobel Prize, and he showed his appreciation by murdering an American citizen.

Correct.

7 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Put down his double cheeseburger and get on the blower to his Secretary of War and say "Pete mate, after you finished your G&T please invade and conquer Greenland for me".

"Sure Boss, easy peasy"

Don't overthink and get lost in the minutiae.

This comment demonstrates how debased MAGA has become. And how fascistic. It also ignores the fact that there is no mechanism for any takeover of Greenland to legally belong to the United States. I don't think even the Supreme Court, as compliant as it has become, would sanction this.

The Chinese or Russians will never attempt to take Greenland.

The whole idea is ridiculous.

America has a base there, it's part of NATO. Nobody is going to attack NATO or an American base, it would be a declaration of war.

Guys, please get real and stop being imbecilic.

5 hours ago, Yagoda said:

They gave him a Nobel Prize, and he showed his appreciation by murdering an American citizen.

How many American citizens has Trump's henchmen murdered?

One thing at least has become very clear over the past year - Trump doesn't give a fig for Comstitutional authority!

On 1/12/2026 at 2:43 AM, rasg said:

There was never going to be an occupation. Trump will do a financial deal with the people. The people don't have much loyalty to the Danes Read about the history between Denmark and Greenland. It is shocking.

What is more shocking is that the people of Greenland have said multiple times that they don't want to be in the USA. Still you people keep blabbing about it. The fake story that China or Russia want it is laughable too.

28 minutes ago, JAG said:

One thing at least has become very clear over the past year - Trump doesn't give a fig for Comstitutional authority!

Says who?

Troll post suggesting assassination removed @brian69

20 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Says who?

I say - to be more specific, I said (obviously in my opinion) "One thing at least has become very clear over the past year - Trump doesn't give a fig for Constitutional authority!"

You are of course entirely free to disagree.

7 minutes ago, JAG said:

I say - to be more specific, I said (obviously in my opinion) "One thing at least has become very clear over the past year - Trump doesn't give a fig for Constitutional authority!"

You are of course entirely free to disagree.

As would most folks with knowledge of US Law who arent blinded by Trump hatred.

14 hours ago, Alan Zweibel said:

Trump’s Greenland Grab Ignores One Crucial Detail: He Doesn’t Have the Authority

The president of the United States is the chief executive in a government of divided powers. The president is not the sovereign, and he has no authority to confer American sovereignty on foreign territory.

Moreover, as we discussed in the context of the Trump plan to take a 25 percent cut of the profits on Nvidia’s microchip exports and the equity shares he is taking in private corporations — and as I imagine we’ll be discussing presently on the latest announced scheme to seize and sell Venezuelan oil (see our editorial) — the executive branch has no constitutional authority to raise revenue or buy property in the absence of a clear delegation of authority by Congress.

https://archive.ph/tFxWT#selection-827.0-839.152

As the author notes, when Thomas Jefferson was offered what became the Louisiana Purchase, he agonized over whether the Constitution allowed the United States to acquire any territory. He decided that it did but only if ratified by a treaty. It would not even have occurred to him that the President alone by fiat could acquire territory for the United States whether by conquest or purchase.

Won't stop Trump and I don't think the military will refuse any orders in this direction.

5 hours ago, Alan Zweibel said:

This comment demonstrates how debased MAGA has become. And how fascistic. It also ignores the fact that there is no mechanism for any takeover of Greenland to legally belong to the United States. I don't think even the Supreme Court, as compliant as it has become, would sanction this.

Indeed, and some on here really are the quintessential Trump supporters........😬

Frightening stuff......🤫

4 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

How many American citizens has Trump's henchmen murdered?

None.

13 hours ago, Alan Zweibel said:

How exactly will he manage that if there is no Constitutional route to do so?

Since when has the law or constitution ever stopped him from anything?

Greenland’s geography, climate, and infrastructure would turnit into a nightmare for any modern army.

The window is 3 months a year for functioning standard US weaponry.

It's not a "hop in and we got it".

This goes 17 minutes. But if interested in facts, it's worth watching it.

15 hours ago, Alan Zweibel said:

Trump’s Greenland Grab Ignores One Crucial Detail: He Doesn’t Have the Authority

The president of the United States is the chief executive in a government of divided powers. The president is not the sovereign, and he has no authority to confer American sovereignty on foreign territory.

Moreover, as we discussed in the context of the Trump plan to take a 25 percent cut of the profits on Nvidia’s microchip exports and the equity shares he is taking in private corporations — and as I imagine we’ll be discussing presently on the latest announced scheme to seize and sell Venezuelan oil (see our editorial) — the executive branch has no constitutional authority to raise revenue or buy property in the absence of a clear delegation of authority by Congress.

https://archive.ph/tFxWT#selection-827.0-839.152

As the author notes, when Thomas Jefferson was offered what became the Louisiana Purchase, he agonized over whether the Constitution allowed the United States to acquire any territory. He decided that it did but only if ratified by a treaty. It would not even have occurred to him that the President alone by fiat could acquire territory for the United States whether by conquest or purchase.

the problem is that his not governing with the congress approval, since congress is GOP majority and many of its GOP members are afraid of him and of his revengeful actions knowing that he has been doing as he pleases, hopefully mid terms will change that and he would get impeached, maybe removed and all of his bad deeds/executive orders will be overturned

10 hours ago, rasg said:

There was never going to be an occupation. Trump will do a financial deal with the people. The people don't have much loyalty to the Danes Read about the history between Denmark and Greenland. It is shocking.

I doubt Greenlanders would be eager to switch from one colonial power to another colonial power, in particular when this other colonial power is headed by Trump! 🤣

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

Says who?

his actions speak loud enough

Taco man will change his mind soon,realise that there is plenty of space there the usa can use. The mongrel conman is just trying it on .

What constitution?

What law?

What Congress?

Donald the Dictator.