House Republican bill would authorize Trump to annex Greenland as 51st state

Rep. Randy Fine, a Florida Republican, has introduced a bill that would authorize President Donald Trump to "take whatever steps necessary" to annex or acquire Greenland and lay the groundwork for making the Arctic island the 51st U.S. state. The measure also orders the administration to send Congress a report outlining what changes to federal law would be required for Greenland to become a state, effectively treating Trump’s repeated threats to seize the Danish territory by purchase or force as a live policy option. Trump has argued that Greenland’s rare earth minerals and strategic location make it vital to U.S. national security and has warned that Russia or China will take it if Washington does not, rhetoric that has drawn condemnation from Denmark and unease from NATO partners. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said a U.S. armed attack on Greenland would spell the end of NATO, while Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez is preparing a counter‑bill to bar federal funds from financing any Trump plan to take over Greenland. The dispute puts Congress and a key U.S. ally on a collision course with the White House over whether America will try to unilaterally absorb a self‑governing territory of another NATO member.