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A Republican speaks out against Trump’s madness: invading a NATO ally would be "the stupidest thing" in American history

Jacques Pj Provost

2026-06-20 23:20:40

When Friendship Would Have Been Enough

According to Bacon, Greenland and Denmark have already demonstrated their willingness to discuss an expanded U.S. military presence, including additional bases, if approached as partners rather than targets. He noted that Greenland has also welcomed investments on a mutually beneficial basis, including in mining projects, given the logistical challenges of operating in the Arctic. “President Trump could have done all of this as a friend, not as an enemy,” Bacon repeated, his voice heavy with regret.

Let’s look at the facts. Greenland is already a partner of the United States. The island is already home to a U.S. military base, Thule, located less than 1,500 kilometers from the North Pole. This base is essential for space surveillance, missile detection, and missile defense. The United States has had cooperation agreements with Greenland and Denmark for decades. Strong relationships. Fruitful relationships. Relationships based on mutual respect. Everything Trump wanted—military access, economic cooperation, a strategic presence—could have been achieved through diplomacy. Through negotiation. Through friendship. But he chose threats. Intimidation. Force.

And that—that revolts me. Because this isn’t just a matter of geopolitics. It’s a matter of character. Of leadership. Of conduct. A true leader knows how to build bridges. A true leader knows how to persuade. A true leader knows how to inspire. Trump? Trump only knows how to threaten. He only knows how to intimidate. He only knows how to demand. The result: what could have been a diplomatic triumph is turning into a potential disaster. What could have strengthened the Atlantic alliance now risks breaking it apart. And why? Because one man is too arrogant, too impatient, too full of himself to understand that true power isn’t measured in guns but in friendships. In alliances. In respect.

The Cost of Arrogance

Bacon pointed out that Denmark and Greenland had previously welcomed discussions about an expansion of the U.S. military presence in the Arctic. Both countries had recognized the region’s growing strategic importance as Arctic ice melts, opening new trade routes and providing access to vast mineral resources. They had even expressed a willingness to collaborate on mining projects, aware of the logistical challenges of operating in one of the most inhospitable regions on the planet.

But all that changed with Trump’s threats. Trust evaporated. Cooperation ground to a halt. What could have been a fruitful partnership turned into a confrontation. “I feel compelled to speak out,” Bacon repeated. “I’m going to oppose this. I’d rather not have to. I think it’s stupid. I feel like I have an obligation to stand up and say that this Republican disagrees.” These words resonate. They resonate because they come from a man who understands that power need not be synonymous with arrogance. That strength need not be synonymous with stupidity.

Section 3: NATO in Danger

The Most Successful Alliance in History

Beyond Greenland itself, Bacon warned that any U.S. move against the territory could cause catastrophic damage to NATO, which he described as “the most successful alliance” in modern history. “It pains me and saddens me,” he said, arguing that the current administration is weakening NATO through rhetoric and policy. “Words and deeds have undermined NATO.” NATO. This alliance that has maintained peace in Europe for 75 years. This alliance that has protected democracy against totalitarianism. This alliance that has given millions of people the freedom to live, to love, to dream.

Think about it. NATO was founded in 1949. Sixteen countries pledged to defend one another. “One for all, all for one.” Article 5 has been invoked only once: after the attacks of September 11, 2001. And all the allies responded. All of them. The Canadians, the British, the French, the Germans, the Italians… All sent troops to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Americans. Because that’s what the alliance was all about. A sacred commitment. A solemn promise. And now? Now, America is considering attacking one of its allies. One of those countries that sent its sons and daughters to fight for us after September 11. It’s incomprehensible.

How is this possible? How could we have come to this? I have brothers in Denmark. Friends in Denmark. People who cried with us after 9/11. People who sent their soldiers to Afghanistan to help us. And now their president wants to invade them? Why? Because they have an island we want? Is this what America stands for? Is that what we stand for? Power at any cost? Force without morality? Ambition without principles? I don’t want to believe that’s my country. I don’t want to believe that’s what we’ve become. But Don Bacon’s words ring true. “It hurts me and it saddens me.” Yes. It hurts us all.

The Danger of Isolation

Bacon also warned that the “America First” approach is veering dangerously toward isolationism. “We want to be America First and America Alone,” he said. “When we say America Alone, that means America Weaker, doesn’t it? America without alliances is a weaker country.” This isn’t just an opinion. It’s a historical truth. History teaches us that great powers that isolate themselves eventually collapse. That empires which believe they can do without friends end up standing alone when adversity strikes. That power without allies is a fragile power.

Think of World War II. The United States initially tried to stay out of the conflict. Isolationism was strong. But when Pearl Harbor was attacked, America joined its allies. And together, they defeated Nazism. Together, they defeated fascism. Together, they defeated the Japanese Empire. Because victory comes from standing together. Power comes from standing together. Security comes from standing together. And now, does America want to destroy this alliance? Does it want to destroy what made it great? What protected it? What enriched it? It’s incomprehensible.

Section 4: The World's Reaction

Europeans Are Concerned

Several leading European countries have publicly supported Denmark in this dispute, underscoring the depth of concern in Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Greenland. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his “deep concern.” The British Prime Minister stated that the United Kingdom “firmly supports” Danish sovereignty over Greenland. Even Eastern European countries—traditionally the closest to the United States—have voiced their concern. Poland. The Czech Republic. The Baltic states. All of them. All worried. All concerned. All shocked.

Trump, however, claimed that NATO would become “more formidable and more effective” if Greenland were under U.S. control. A baseless claim. A dangerous claim. Because NATO’s strength does not lie in the size of its territory. It lies in the strength of its alliances. In the trust between its members. In the shared commitment to defending freedom. Attacking an ally does not strengthen the alliance. It destroys it. Period.

Imagine for a moment that you live in Copenhagen. Or Berlin. Or Paris. You’re watching the news. You learn that the U.S. president—the leader of the free world—is threatening to invade a NATO ally. A friendly country. A democratic country. How would you feel? Fear? Disbelief? Betrayal? Probably all of those at once. And then you ask yourself: who’s next? France? Germany? Poland? If America can invade Greenland, why not Normandy? Why not Bavaria? Why not Silesia? That’s the problem. Once you break trust, you can’t restore it. Once you show that you’re willing to attack your friends, no one will trust you anymore. No one.

Russia is gloating

Russia, on the other hand, seems to welcome Trump’s stance. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev even sarcastically urged Trump to act quickly and annex Greenland. Medvedev quipped that if Trump didn’t move fast enough, Russia could organize a referendum in Greenland for the island to join the Russian Federation. A joke? Perhaps. But a joke that reveals a great deal. A great deal about what Russia thinks of American madness. A great deal about how Moscow is capitalizing on Western division. A great deal about the danger the West poses to itself.

Imagine the scene in Moscow. Vladimir Putin and his advisors are watching CNN. They see Trump’s remarks. They see Bacon’s reaction. And they smile. They smile because they understand that America is doing their work for them—destroying the Western alliance, weakening Europe, and dividing democracies. Everything Russia has been trying to do for decades, America is about to do itself. And for free. Without Russia even having to lift a finger.

Section 5: Strategic Importance

Greenland’s White Gold

Greenland’s importance lies in its location. As Arctic ice melts, the island is becoming central to emerging trade routes and access to vast mineral resources. Rare earths. Uranium. Zinc. Lead. Iron. Greenland’s subsoil is teeming with riches. Resources that are essential to the modern economy. Resources that are crucial for green technologies. Resources that China, for its part, covets intensely. And that is where the real issue lies. The real reason for American interest. Not security. Not defense. Money. Resources. Economic power.

But Greenland’s wealth lies not only in its subsoil. It also lies in its geographic location. The island is situated at the crossroads of the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. It controls the shipping lanes that are opening up as the ice melts. It offers an ideal position for monitoring the Arctic. For the defense of North America. For projecting power in an increasingly contested region. That’s why the United States has had a base in Thule since 1951. That’s why the U.S. has signed defense agreements with Denmark. That’s why Greenland is already, de facto, a strategic partner of the U.S. All of this, legally. Diplomatically. Peacefully.

I understand the strategic interest. I understand the economic importance. But does that justify invading an ally? Does that justify breaking a 75-year-old alliance? Does that justify betraying our values? No. A thousand times no. Because there is something more important than mineral resources. More important than trade routes. More important than geopolitical power. It’s integrity. Honor. Loyalty to our principles. If we’re willing to betray an ally for uranium, what aren’t we willing to do? If we’re willing to invade a friend for zinc, what wouldn’t we do? That’s the real question. Not Greenland. Not the resources. But what we’re willing to sacrifice to get them.

The Arctic Challenge

Greenland, with a population of about 56,000, is already home to a U.S. military base. But Trump’s position runs counter to public opinion at home. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 17% of Americans support efforts to acquire Greenland, and that substantial majorities of both Democrats and Republicans oppose the use of military force to annex the island. Only 4% of Americans—including just one in ten Republicans and virtually no Democrats—said it would be “a good idea” for the United States to use military force to take Greenland from Denmark.

And that is where, in these figures, hope lies. Because despite the rhetoric, despite the threats, despite the madness of the moment, the American people remain level-headed. The American people understand that force cannot be used indiscriminately. That alliances cannot be broken lightly. That principles matter. Americans do not want a war with Denmark. They do not want an invasion of Greenland. They do not want the destruction of NATO. They want security. Prosperity. Peace. And they know that these things are not achieved through aggression, but through cooperation.

Section 6: The Voice of Reason

Don Bacon, the Man Who Said No

Who is Don Bacon? An ordinary man. A former military officer. A U.S. Air Force pilot who served for 30 years. A man who commanded fighter squadrons. A man who fought in Iraq. A man who received the Bronze Star for his service. A man who was elected to Congress in 2016. A man who supported Trump. Who voted for Trump. Who defended Trump. But who, today, is ready to say no. To say that enough is enough. To say that his party has lost its way.

Bacon represents Nebraska, a conservative Midwestern state. An agricultural state. A state of hardworking people. People who believe in responsibility. In integrity. In honor. And that’s what makes his testimony so powerful. Because he doesn’t come from a liberal East Coast state. He doesn’t come from a big, cosmopolitan city. He comes from the heart of conservative America. And even he—even Don Bacon—thinks Trump’s proposals are “stupid.” That they’re “ridiculous.” That they’re “one of the worst things” America has ever done.

I look at the photo of Don Bacon. His weary gaze. His stooped posture. His clasped hands. And I wonder how many other Republicans feel the same way but don’t dare say so. How many senators? How many representatives? How many governors? How many ordinary citizens? They’re out there. I know they’re out there. Because the Reuters/Ipsos poll numbers show it. Only 17% of Americans support the acquisition of Greenland. Only 4% support the use of military force. Even among Republicans, only 40% favor the acquisition. And only 8% support the use of force. The majority of Americans, including the majority of Republicans, are against it. But they’re afraid. Afraid of Trump. Afraid of his base. Afraid of political retaliation. And so they stay silent.

The Courage of Truth

Bacon said he felt “obligated” to speak out. “I’m going to oppose this,” he said. “I’d rather not have to. I think it’s stupid. I feel like I have an obligation to stand up and say that this Republican disagrees.” These are words of courage. Words of conviction. Words from a man who puts his country above his party. Above his career. Above himself. Because Bacon understands something that many have forgotten: that the ultimate loyalty is not to a party or a leader, but to the country. To its values. To its principles.

And that is the true test of democracy. Not the ability to elect a leader. But the courage to stand up to him when he’s wrong. The ability to say no when he proposes something dangerous. The willingness to defend principles even when it’s difficult. That’s what Don Bacon does. That’s what he’s doing on January 14, 2026, in this Washington newsroom. He isn’t just defending Greenland. He isn’t just defending NATO. He’s defending America. The America he knows. The America he loves. The America he served for 30 years in uniform. The America that has honor. Integrity. Respect for its allies.

Section 7: The Weight of History

The Atlantic Alliance in Jeopardy

“They seem to forget that we fought World War II, that we have NATO, and that it has been a success, and that we are the leader of the free world,” Bacon said. “We must act like it.” These words resonate. They resonate because they remind us of what America has stood for for decades. During the Cold War, America was the beacon of freedom. The protector of democracies. The leader of the free world. It didn’t perfect these things. It didn’t always make the right choices. But it tried. It aspired to something greater than itself. To something greater than its immediate interests.

And now? Now, America is considering invading an ally. A friendly country. A democratic country. A country that has fought alongside us. Why? Because it has something we want. Is this what we’ve become? Looters? Imperialists? People who take what they want simply because they can? I hope not. I hope Don Bacon’s words will resonate. I hope Americans will wake up. I hope they’ll realize that power without principles isn’t power. It’s weakness. Moral weakness. Spiritual weakness. The kind of weakness that ultimately destroys even the greatest empires.

I think of my father. He served in the U.S. military during the Cold War. He was stationed in Germany. He was part of the generation that defended Europe against communism. That protected America’s allies. That maintained peace. He would be horrified by what he sees today. He wouldn’t understand how his country could even consider invading an ally. He wouldn’t understand how America could betray its values. And I ask myself: Is this what we want to leave our children? Is this the legacy we want to leave them? A country that attacks its friends? A country that breaks its promises? A country that does not honor its alliances? No. It cannot be that. It cannot be our legacy.

The Silence Before the Storm

Bacon said that the White House’s approach was “shocking.” And it truly is. Shocking because it represents a radical break with 75 years of American foreign policy. Shocking because it threatens to destroy the most successful alliance in modern history. Shocking because it exposes America to ridicule, isolation, and danger. But perhaps this shock is necessary. Perhaps this shock will wake Americans up. Perhaps this shock will force them to reflect on what they have become. On what they want to be. On what they should be.

Silence falls over the press room. Bacon’s words still echo. “That’s ridiculous. It’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard.” And then… nothing. Just silence. The silence of unanswered questions. The silence of history judging us. The silence of the future awaiting us.

Section 8: The Future of the Alliance

The Point of No Return

The Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that 66% of respondents—including 91% of Democrats and 40% of Republicans—said they were concerned that U.S. efforts to acquire Greenland would harm the NATO alliance and U.S. relations with its European allies. That figure speaks volumes. A figure that shows Americans understand the importance of the alliance. A figure that shows Americans do not want to see it destroyed. A figure that shows that the heartland of America—the America that matters, the America that votes—understands something the Trump administration seems to have forgotten: that alliances are the key to power. That cooperation is the key to security. That respect is the key to trust.

And that is what gives us hope. Because despite Trump’s bellicose rhetoric, despite his threats of invasion, despite his contempt for alliances, the American people remain committed to NATO. The American people understand that NATO protected Europe during the Cold War. That NATO has maintained peace for 75 years. That NATO saved lives in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and Libya. That NATO, in short, has been a force for good in the world. And that destroying it would be an act of folly.

I think of future generations. Of the children who will be born in ten years. In twenty years. In fifty years. What will they think of us? Of what we did? Of what we failed to do? If we let NATO be destroyed, they will judge us. They will judge us harshly. They will ask us why we let this happen. Why we let one man destroy 75 years of peace and cooperation. Why we let our allies be betrayed. Why we let our values be trampled upon. And what will we tell them? That we were afraid? That we were divided? That we were blind? No. We must do better. We must be better. We must stand up. Like Don Bacon. We must say no. We must say enough is enough. Because history will not forgive inaction. History will not forgive silence. History will not forgive betrayal.

The Moment of Truth

Bacon said he was “obliged” to speak out. And he’s right. We are all obliged to speak out. We are all compelled to stand up. We are all compelled to say that enough is enough. That America’s policy cannot be based on aggression. That America’s policy cannot be based on betrayal. That America’s policy must be based on the principles that have made it great. Freedom. Democracy. Respect for allies. The defense of international law.

This is America’s moment of truth. The moment when it must decide what it wants to be. An arrogant power that takes whatever it wants? Or a responsible leader that respects its allies and defends its values? The moment when it must decide whether it wants to be the beacon of freedom or the empire of force. The moment when it must decide whether it wants to be respected or feared. Because these two things are not the same. Respect is earned through honor. Fear is instilled through terror. And America has always been respected. It should not want to be feared.

Section 9: The Final Word

The voice of reason rings out

Don Bacon’s words still echo in the press room. “That’s ridiculous. It’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard. I hate to put it that way.” But he said it. He said what many were thinking but didn’t dare to say. He spoke the truth. An uncomfortable truth. A painful truth. But a necessary truth. Because sometimes, the truth must be told. Even when it hurts. Even when it divides. Even when it comes at a high cost.

Bacon said he was “compelled” to speak out. And he’s right. The truth needs voices. Principles need defenders. Honor needs champions. And Don Bacon, that day, in that Washington newsroom, was all of those things. He was the voice of reason. He was the defender of principles. He was the champion of honor. And for that, he deserves our respect. Our gratitude. Our admiration.

I look at the footage of Don Bacon. His calm gaze. His firm voice. His upright posture. And I wonder how many other Republicans think like him but don’t dare say so. How many Democrats, too? How many independents? How many ordinary Americans? They’re out there; I know it. The polls show it. The majority of Americans oppose the invasion of Greenland. The majority is concerned about NATO. The majority understands that America cannot attack its allies. But they’re afraid. Afraid of Trump. Afraid of his base. Afraid of political retaliation. And so they remain silent. But silence is complicity. Silence is betrayal. Silence is the death of democracy. It’s time to break the silence. It’s time to stand up. It’s time to speak the truth. Like Don Bacon.

The Way Forward

Bacon said the White House’s approach was “shocking.” But it’s not just shocking. It’s dangerous. It’s irresponsible. It runs counter to American interests. NATO is “the most successful alliance” in modern history. It has maintained peace in Europe for 75 years. It has protected democracies from totalitarianism. It has given millions of people the freedom to live, to love, to dream. Destroying it would be an act of madness.

And that is why Don Bacon’s words are so important. They remind America of what it is. What it has always been. What it should always be. A responsible leader. A loyal friend. A defender of freedom. Not an arrogant empire. Not an imperial aggressor. Not a traitor to alliances. America must listen to these words. America must hear these words. America must act on these words. Because the future of the alliance. The future of peace. The future of democracy. All of this is at stake. All of this depends on what America does now.

Conclusion: The Appeal to America

Time to Choose

Don Bacon said what no one else dared to say. He said that Trump’s proposals to invade Greenland were “stupid.” “Ridiculous.” “One of the worst things” America has ever done. And he’s right. These proposals are a betrayal of American values. A betrayal of America’s allies. A betrayal of American history. America cannot be both the leader of the free world and an imperial aggressor. It must choose. It must choose cooperation over confrontation. It must choose alliances over aggression. It must choose principles over power.

Greenland is a NATO ally. Denmark is a NATO ally. Both countries have fought alongside America in many wars. Both countries sent troops to Afghanistan after 9/11. Both countries have been reliable and loyal partners for decades. And now, America wants to invade them? Why? Because Greenland has mineral resources? Because it has a strategic location? Does that justify betrayal? Does that justify war? No. A thousand times no.

Silence hangs over Washington. Don Bacon’s words still echo: “This is ridiculous. It’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard.” And I wonder: what is America going to do now? Will it listen? Will it understand? Will it wake up? Or will it continue down this mad path? The path of arrogance. The path of aggression. The path of betrayal. I look at Don Bacon’s face. I see the worry in his eyes. I see the determination in his posture. And I realize that it’s not just one man speaking. It’s a generation. It’s the heartland of America. It’s the values that made this country great. The values that made it powerful. The values that made it respected. And those values, today, are in danger. In danger of being forgotten. In danger of being betrayed. In danger of being destroyed. But there is hope. There is always hope. Because as long as there are people like Don Bacon, as long as there are people willing to speak the truth, as long as there are people willing to stand up for principles, America will survive. It will survive Trump. It will survive the madness of the moment. It will survive itself. Because America, at its core, is not a country. It’s an idea. An idea of freedom. An idea of democracy. An idea of honor. And ideas—true ideas—never die.

The Legacy to Leave

NATO is “the most successful alliance” in modern history. It has maintained peace in Europe for 75 years. It has protected democracies from totalitarianism. It has given millions of people the freedom to live, to love, to dream. Destroying it would be an act of madness. An act of treason. An act of political suicide. America must make the right choice. It must choose to respect its allies. It must choose to defend NATO. It must choose to be the leader of the free world, not its tyrant.

Don Bacon has spoken. The time has come for America to speak up. To say that the invasion of Greenland will not happen. To say that NATO will not be destroyed. To say that allies will not be betrayed. To say that American values will not be abandoned. The time has come to stand up. To speak out. To take action. Like Don Bacon. Because the future of the alliance. The future of peace. The future of democracy. All of this depends on what America does now. And history, we assure you, will judge us. History will judge whether we had the courage to defend our values. History will judge whether we had the wisdom to respect our allies. History will judge whether we had the honor to be what America has always claimed to be: the beacon of freedom, the defender of democracy, the leader of the free world.

Sources

Primary sources

blank »>Kyiv Independent – Republican congressman blasts Trump’s Greenland invasion talk as ‘one of the dumbest things’ that could wreck NATO (January 14, 2026)

blank »>Reuters – Just one in five Americans support Trump’s efforts to acquire Greenland, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds (January 14, 2026)

blank »>Don Bacon House.gov – Bacon and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation Prohibiting a U.S. Invasion of NATO Member States (January 14, 2026)