House Democrats launched a campaign to prevent President Donald Trump from unilaterally moving towards “invading or seizing territory” in Greenland, Canada, and Panama.
Seth Magaziner (D-RI) spearheads the No Invading Allies Act, which prohibits funding to be used by the military to conduct operations to seize Greenland and Canada, as well as Panama.
Magaziner said Trump’s “reckless” rhetoric regarding obtaining territories from three countries made him untrustworthy when it comes to the war powers granted to the president.
“Americans do not support sending troops to unnecessary wars, especially with allies of the United States who pose no threat to our country,” Magaziner said in a Monday statement. “Unfortunately, President Trump has recklessly refused to rule out taking the territory of other nations by force. Under the Constitution, it is Congress, not the President, who has the power to declare war. It is time for Congress to reclaim that constitutional power and ensure that the President adheres to the will of the American people.”
According to the National Constitution Center, the U.S. Constitution states that Congress can approve the declaration of an act. However, Congress did not declare war until 1942. Since then, modern presidents have entered into conflicts without explicit or formal approval from Congress.
The War Powers Resolution of 1974 also requires that the executive branch notify Congress of any military action within 48 hours and prohibits troops from being engaged in combat for longer than 60 days without the approval of Congress. The legislation doesn’t define the term “hostilities,” but previous administrations claimed that their military actions did not qualify for hostilities, and therefore, congressional approval wasn’t required.
Reps. Eric Swallwell from California and Pramila Jajapal from Washington are also co-sponsors of the bill. Both the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees have been assigned to review this legislation.
Trump discussed the acquisition of Greenland and Canada months ago and has frequently referred to Canada in his speeches as the U.S.’s 51st State. He also asserted that in Tuesday’s joint address to Congress, the U.S. will reclaim and purchase Greenland for reasons of security.
Trump added, “I also want to send a special message tonight to the amazing people of Greenland. We strongly support the right of Greenland to decide its own destiny, and we will welcome them into America if they choose.”
Trump discussed the expansion of American territory months ago and stated in a December 2024 post on Truth Social, “The United States of America feel that ownership and control of Greenland are an absolute necessity.”
Leaders from Greenland (a Danish territory) and Panama reacted to Trump’s remarks before Congress.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Edde said, “We don’t want to be Americans or Danes. We are Kalaallit” in a Facebook post translated by Reuters. “The Americans and their leader must understand this.”
In a Wednesday post, Panamanian president Jose Raul Mulino stated: “I refuse, in the name of Panama and Panamanians as a whole, this new affront against truth and our dignity as a country.”
Republicans are also questioning whether Trump will start a war against Greenland. In an interview given to NBC, for example, the R-Oklahoma Senator James Lankford said that to “not invade another country,” Washington would have no intention of doing so.
Lankford stated, “The president has been clear. He is the President who kept American soldiers out of war. He does not want to expand American forces or start wars, but rather, he wants to ensure the national security of America, which includes our economy and future.”
