Ukraine security guarantees supported by U.S.
Catch up with NBC News Clone on today's hot topic: Trump Congress Elections Greenland Russia Ukraine Live Updates Rcna252200 - Politics and Government | NBC News Clone. Our editorial team reformatted this story for clarity and speed.
European countries are pushing back against the Trump administration's designs on Greenland.
Highlights from Jan. 7, 2026
- RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: The United States for the first time backed a pledge by a broad coalition of Ukraine’s allies to provide security guarantees to the country, which include binding commitments to support it if Russia attacks again.
- GREENLAND ACQUISITION: France’s foreign minister said today that Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him the Trump administration had “ruled out” going after Greenland in the way it did Venezuela. The White House said yesterday that using the U.S. military to acquire the self-governing Danish territory is under consideration.
- LINDSEY HALLIGAN APPOINTMENT: A federal judge ordered Trump ally Lindsey Halligan to explain why she continues to serve as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after another judge determined she was unlawfully appointed.
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Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer won't seek re-election
Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., will announce tomorrow that he is not seeking re-election to Congress, a spokesperson confirmed to NBC News this evening.
Hoyer plans to make the announcement when he speaks on the House floor at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Politico first reported his retirement.
Hoyer, 86, has served in the House since he won a special election in 1981. He rose through the leadership ranks to eventually become majority leader under then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. He stepped down from leadership when Pelosi did.
“I did not want to be one of those members who clearly stayed, outstayed his or her ability to do the job,” Hoyer told The Washington Post about his decision to leave Congress.
Trump seeks $6.2 million in legal fees from Fani Willis’ office over election interference case
Trump is seeking more than $6.2 million in attorney fees and costs from the Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney’s office after the election interference case brought against him and others was recently dismissed.
Georgia legislators last year passed a law that says that if a prosecutor is disqualified from a case because of improper conduct and the case is then dismissed, people charged in that case is entitled to request “all reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred” in their defense. The judge overseeing the case then is responsible for reviewing the request and awarding the fees and costs, which are to be paid from the budget of the prosecutor’s office.
Trump is seeking a total of $6,261,613.08 in a motion filed today.
JD Vance says he's 'sure' Trump will be impeached if Democrats win a majority in the midterm elections
Vice President JD Vance expressed certainty in a new interview that Trump will be impeached if Democrats win the midterms in November.
"I'm sure he'll get impeached," Vance told Fox News’ Jesse Watters in a recorded interview that aired tonight.
"Their entire obsessive focus of that party is they hate Donald Trump," he said of Democrats. "What they’re going to do is they’re going to spend all their time and all of your money trying to get Donald Trump."
Trump said yesterday at a House Republican policy retreat, "You got to win the midterms, because if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just going to be — I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me."
Nebraska state senator faces historic expulsion vote over sexual misconduct allegations
On the first day of the 2026 legislative session, Nebraska lawmakers were asked today to consider a motion to expel a fellow senator accused of making a sexually charged comment to a legislative staffer and touching her inappropriately during a session-end party last year.
If lawmakers vote next week to expel Sen. Dan McKeon, 59, a Republican in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, it will be the first time they have ever done so.
The unprecedented move follows a complaint from the staffer that McKeon said she should “get laid” on her vacation and patted her on her buttocks in May during a party at the Lincoln Country Club attended by state lawmakers, staffers and lobbyists.
House committee votes to issue more subpoenas related to Jeffrey Epstein
The House Oversight Committee today approved more subpoenas related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The panel voted to subpoena billionaire Les Wexner over his ties to Epstein and approved subpoenas for the co-executors of Epstein’s estate: attorney Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn.
Wexner, the former CEO of Victoria’s Secret, had a lengthy relationship with Epstein dating to the 1980s and hired him to manage his personal finances.
House approves motion to discharge for three-year ACA tax credits extension
The House approved a procedural motion to consider a three year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits that expired at the end of 2025.
On a 221-205 vote with nine Republicans joining all Democrats in support, the House adopted a motion to discharge the legislation. That was the discharge petition introduced by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., that reached the necessary 218 signatures to force a vote.
A final passage vote is expected tomorrow.
Senate to vote on war powers resolution regarding Venezuela
The Senate will vote at 11 a.m. tomorrow on a resolution that would require congressional authorization before U.S. armed forces engage in additional hostilities within or against Venezuela.
The resolution, which needs only a simple majority to advance, is the first congressional test of whether Republicans will publicly oppose Trump’s actions against Venezuela after the capture of Maduro.
The vote will be simply to discharge the resolution to the full Senate, and if it passes, it would start a process that most likely would not end tomorrow.
But either way, the vote will be a good barometer of whether there is an appetite in Congress to reassert its responsibility to approve military operation in foreign countries.
The resolution was introduced by Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif. The vote could be close considering the consternation among Republicans who generally support the mission to capture Maduro but are concerned about the rhetoric the administration is using in discussing boots on the ground in Venezuela or potentially going into other countries.
"This is not the surgical execution of an arrest warrant. It was much bigger than that before last Saturday, and it’s going to be much bigger than that from now for the next few years," Kaine told reporters today. "So this is something that shouldn’t happen without Congress."
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., opposed the resolution in a statement, calling it "the wrong message to send to hardened drug traffickers and to dictators."
"Let’s be clear about what that resolution does and what it does not do," he said. "It does not reassert Congress’s powers. It does not make America stronger. It makes America weaker and less safe. It would weaken the President’s legitimate, constitutional authority."
Democrats savor a ‘grab bag’ of new attack lines as Republicans defend Trump on Venezuela
Republicans have spent days casting the stunning arrest of Maduro as the ultimate display of strength and power.
But Democrats see something far different looming: a new set of political vulnerabilities for the opposing party.
Democrats believe unexpected military action in Venezuela, on top of Trump and his top aides' making overtures about annexing Greenland and threatening leaders in Cuba and Colombia, offer them an array of anti-Republican messaging, some of which could remain potent as they head into a volatile midterms season.
Sen. John Fetterman says he's against taking Greenland by force but open to buying it
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said today on X that even though Greenland has "massive strategic benefits for the United States," he doesn't support "taking it by force."
"America is not a bully," Fetterman said.
"Ideally, we purchase it—similar to our purchases of Alaska or the Louisiana Purchase," he said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers Monday that the Trump administration wants to buy Greenland from Denmark, according to two sources familiar with the discussions. Yesterday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that Trump considers acquiring Greenland a "national security priority" and that military use is "always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal."
Top Republicans in Congress later said it would be inappropriate for the U.S. to take the Arctic island by force.
Republican senators ramp up impeachment rhetoric against judges
Republican senators today increased their scrutiny of federal judges whose rulings they’ve opposed, with some pushing for them to be impeached.
Attention at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on two U.S. district judges: Washington-based James Boasberg and Maryland-based Deborah Boardman, both of whom have fallen foul of MAGA world.
Articles of impeachment naming both Boasberg and Boardman have already been introduced in the Republican-controlled House, but no further steps have been taken.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who chaired today's hearing, urged the House to move forward on impeachment proceedings.
Trump says he wants to raise 2027 military budget to $1.5 trillion
Trump said on Truth Social that he has determined that the 2027 military budget should be increased to $1.5 trillion, which he said could be done “easily” because of tariff revenue.
"After long and difficult negotiations with Senators, Congressmen, Secretaries, and other Political Representatives, I have determined that, for the Good of our Country, especially in these very troubled and dangerous times, our Military Budget for the year 2027 should not be $1 Trillion Dollars, but rather $1.5 Trillion Dollars," Trump wrote. "This will allow us to build the ‘Dream Military’ that we have long been entitled to and, more importantly, that will keep us SAFE and SECURE, regardless of foe."
The president cannot unilaterally up the military budget, but he can submit his request to Congress for its consideration before it passes the National Defense Authorization Act and the Defense Appropriations Act.
The 2026 NDAA authorized around $900 billion for military spending. Trump signed that bill into law last month after it passed the House and the Senate.
Trump invited to deliver State of the Union address to Congress next month
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has officially invited Trump to deliver his annual State of the Union address on Feb. 24.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis calls April special session on redistricting
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for a special legislative session today to take up a redraw of the state’s congressional map in April, following through on his promise to dive into the national mid-decade redistricting fray.
“Every Florida resident deserves to be represented fairly and constitutionally,” DeSantis said on X. “This Special Session will take place after the regular legislative session, which will allow the Legislature to first focus on the pressing issues facing Floridians before devoting its full attention to congressional redistricting in April.”
DeSantis said the session will occur April 20-24, which would run right up against the state’s April 24 candidate filing deadline, though that could be moved. Florida’s primaries are set to take place in August.
Trump says 'all defense contractors' will face limits on stock buybacks and executive pay until their performance improves
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that all U.S. defense contractors will have to face limits on stock buybacks, dividend payments and executive pay until they make military equipment faster.
Trump wrote: "Defense Contractors are currently issuing massive Dividends to their Shareholders and massive Stock Buybacks, at the expense and detriment of investing in Plants and Equipment. This situation will no longer be allowed or tolerated!"
He added that "Executive Pay Packages in the Defense Industry are exorbitant and unjustifiable given how slowly these Companies are delivering vital Equipment to our Military, and our Allies."
Trump said he believed these limits would be "good for both Executives and Shareholders, because it will be GREAT for our Country!"
It was not immediately clear how Trump planned to impose those limits, but nonetheless shares of the top U.S. defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics and Boeing fell to the lows of the day after Trump's announcement. The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Republican Doug Mastriano won't run for governor in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano said today he will not run again for governor.
“We believe, with a full peace in our hearts, that God has not called us to run for governor,” Mastriano, a Republican, said during a lengthy Facebook Live session he held with his wife.
Mastriano, who lost the governor’s race in 2022 to Democrat Josh Shapiro by double digits, had for months teased another campaign in 2026. Shapiro, a potential 2028 presidential contender, is expected to run for re-election in the battleground state.
Mastriano said during his social media session that “this is just not our time,” while also not ruling out a future run for higher office.
“This does not mean we’re stepping away. We’re staying in the movement,” he said.
Republicans have largely rallied around state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who remains the only major name on the list of declared GOP candidates in the race for governor.
Some GOP senators denounce potential plans to take over Greenland
A group of GOP senators, including Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, today denounced the Trump administration's rhetoric about taking over Greenland.
“Threats and intimidation by U.S. officials over American ownership of Greenland are as unseemly as they are counterproductive. And the use of force to seize the sovereign democratic territory of one of America’s most loyal and capable allies would be an especially catastrophic act of strategic self-harm to America and its global influence," McConnell, the former GOP leader in the Senate, said in a statement.
Collins, speaking to NBC News on Capitol Hill, said she opposed the U.S. taking over Greenland in any way, regardless if it required military force.
“I am not for the United States taking over Greenland either by military means or financial incentives," the senator from Maine said.
She added that she doesn't know if the president is serious about this plan and "it surprises me every time it comes up.”
Murkowski said it's "very, very unsettling" to hear Trump administration officials talk about taking over Greenland.
“I hate the rhetoric around either acquiring Greenland by purchase or by force," she said.
Earlier today, in a briefing at the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not rule out using U.S. military force to take over Greenland.
"All options are always on the table for President Trump as he examines what’s in the best interest of the United States, but I will just say that the president’s first option always has been diplomacy," Leavitt said.
Trump orders flags to be lowered in honor of Rep. Doug LaMalfa, who died Monday
Trump ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff until this evening to honor Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., who died unexpectedly this week.
"In honor of the late, GREAT, Congressman Doug LaMalfa, a true American Patriot and fantastic Representative of Northern California, yesterday I ordered all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until this evening," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "Doug will be dearly missed!"
LaMalfa died Monday at the age of 65.
Speaker Mike Johnson: 'We're not involved with boots on the ground' in Venezuela
After a briefing with the entire House, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said, "We're not involved with boots on the ground" in Venezuela.
Responding to questions from reporters, he added, "We don't anticipate boots on the ground," in Venezuela, Greenland or anywhere else that Trump administration officials have floated taking action in in recent days.
His remarks came after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that while there are currently no boots on the ground in Venezuela, "the president, of course, reserves the right to use the United States military if necessary."
Later, in the White House briefing, Leavitt didn't rule out the possibility of using military forces in Greenland.
"All options are always on the table for President Trump as he examines what’s in the best interest of the United States, but I will just say that the President’s first option always has been diplomacy," she said. "Again, look at Venezuela, he tried ardently to strike a good deal with Nicolás Maduro and he told him I will use the United States military and you will not like it, if you don’t take such a deal, and look at what happened."
Johnson also spoke about the goal of the U.S. to open the door for democracy in Venezuela, saying that the mission won't be paid for by the American people.
“I don't assume that any U.S. taxpayer dollars will be spent to run an election in Venezuela," he said.
Trump says he will work to 'ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes'
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he would address housing issues during his speech in Davos, referencing the World Economic Forum annual meeting later this month in Switzerland.
He said in the post that he would take steps to "ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes," adding that he was calling on Congress to codify the move into law.
Trump said he was taking the move because "for a very long time, buying and owning a home was considered the pinnacle of the American Dream," arguing that the "American Dream is increasingly out of reach for far too many people, especially younger Americans."
Karoline Leavitt lays out the future of Venezuelan oil
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing that the U.S. government "has already begun marketing Venezuelan crude oil" with the global marketplace.
"All proceeds from the sale of Venezuelan crude oil and products will first settle in U.S.-controlled accounts at globally recognized banks to guarantee the legitimacy and integrity of the ultimate distribution of proceeds, and those funds will be dispersed for the benefit of the American people and the Venezuelan people at the discretion of the United States government," she added.
Trump said yesterday that the interim Venezuelan government will turn over between 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S.
Marco Rubio says he outlined three-step process for future of Venezuela in Senate briefing
Following a briefing from Trump administration officials to all senators on Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined the three-phase process the U.S. plans to embark on in Venezuela, a process he said he outlined in detail to the Senate.
"Step one is the stabilization of the country. We don't want it descending into chaos," Rubio told reporters, adding that stabilization includes the "quarantine" of oil in Venezuela.
He highlighted Trump's vision, which he announced overnight, that includes a plan to sell 30 million to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil at market rates.
The money from that sale of oil "will then be handled in such a way that we will control how it is dispersed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people," Rubio said.
"The second phase will be a phase that we call recovery," Rubio added. "And that is ensuring that American, Western and other companies have access to the Venezuelan market in a way that's fair."
Phase two also includes reconciling with the Venezuelan government to ensure that "opposition forces can be amnestied and released," Rubio said.
Since Saturday, Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, has been serving as interim president, fueling worry among the leaders of Venezuela's opposition parties, many of whom live in exile.
"The third phase of course will be one of transition," Rubio told reporters, adding, "We feel like we'll be moving forward here in a very positive way."
Agriculture secretary criticizes alleged fraud, says 'California's next' and 'we're looking at New York'
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins criticized alleged fraud in programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, in a press briefing.
"Clearly you all have been writing about Minnesota," she said, referencing fraud allegations in the state. "California's next, we're looking at New York, some other states. The amount of fraud in all of these programs is absolutely stunning."
She called it a "significant problem."
Chuck Schumer, Tim Kaine call on Senate and House GOP leadership to hold hearings on Venezuela
Following a briefing for all senators from Trump administration officials about Venezuela, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told reporters that they'd like House and Senate GOP leadership to hold public hearings about the Trump administration's operations in Venezuela.
"The American people need answers," Schumer told reporters after accusing Trump administration officials of only briefing lawmakers behind closed doors.
"Neither the House or the Senate have been willing to hold a hearing ... why not?" Kaine asked.
The Senate minority leader added that he was "totally dissatisfied" with the answers senators received from the Trump administration briefers about conducting future operations in other countries, succession in Venezuela and whether the U.S. will try to take control of Greenland.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin: Venezuelan oil is 'not ours'
Following a briefing for all senators on Venezuela from members of the Trump administration, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told reporters that last weekend's military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was not regime change.
"No," he said when asked whether the U.S. was engaged in regime change, highlighting that the U.S. "took out a president that was not duly elected."
Mullin demurred when asked whether interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who was Maduro's vice president, was duly elected. The senator said he couldn't say because he didn't know whether presidents and vice presidents are elected on the same ticket in Venezuela, as they are in the U.S.
Mullin added that the priority regarding the U.S.' involvement in Venezuela is "to bring stability to Venezuela" and to bring democracy back to the nation. Notably, Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday told NBC News' "Meet the Press" that holding elections and bringing back democracy was a secondary focus for U.S. operations in Venezuela, highlighting a priority to curb drug trafficking.
Mullin also spoke about Trump's goal of revitalizing oil infrastructure in Venezuela.
The senator told reporters that Venezuelan oil is "not ours," adding that the U.S. Treasury would get "not one dollar" from Venezuelan oil sales and that oil revenue would stay in Venezuela to help residents there.
This was also in contrast to what Trump himself said Saturday when he told reporters at Mar-a-Lago, "We’re going to be taking out a tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground, and that wealth is going to the people of Venezuela and people from outside of Venezuela that used to be in Venezuela, and it goes also to the United States of America in the form of reimbursement for the damages caused us by that country.”
And overnight, the president said that the U.S. would seize 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela and sell it at market price to fund U.S. and Venezuelan interests.
White House briefing begins
The White House briefing has started, with appearances by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Mike Johnson: 'We're not at war with Greenland'
House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized that "we're not at war with Greenland."
He added that the U.S. has no "intention" or "reason" to be at war with Greenland.
"They're talking about diplomatic channels for this," Johnson said, though White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has not ruled out military action.
Rep. Tom Emmer criticizes alleged Minnesota fraud by Somali immigrants: 'Send them home'
Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., slammed what he referred to as "Somali fraud" in Minnesota.
"Send them home," he said, referring to Somali immigrants who take part in fraud or who he believes do not assimilate into American culture.
Emmer, who serves as the Republican whip, argued that Gov. Tim Walz dropping his bid for a third term in office would not absolve him from accountability.
"Walz is running scared," Emmer said. "But let me be clear. Tim Walz dropping out of the Minnesota's governor's race will not exempt him from the storm of accountability that is heading his way. Between the Oversight Committee's congressional investigation and President Trump's decisive action, Walz can try to run but he's not going to be able to hide for long."
Emmer's comments took place during a press conference with Republican leadership. NBC News has reached out to Walz's office for comment.
Mike Johnson to address British Parliament on Jan. 20
House Speaker Mike Johnson announced in a press release that he would travel to the United Kingdom to address its Parliament on Jan. 20.
The remarks will honor the United States' 250th anniversary, the release said.
Johnson said in a statement, "I will be happy to visit one of the great shrines of democracy itself, where the principles that launched the long struggle for American liberty were debated and refined."
Rep. Jim Baird discharged from the hospital following car accident
Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind., was discharged from the hospital after a car accident, according to his X account. His wife "continues to receive excellent care as she recovers," the post said.
"Rep. Jim Baird and his family expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of love and support, and he thanks everyone for their prayers and well wishes," said the post, which included a picture of Baird in what appeared to be a neck brace.
Baird's office said yesterday that the congressman was expected to make a full recovery.
Mike Johnson says he thinks the White House is 'looking at diplomatic channels' for Greenland
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said this morning that he doesn't "think anybody’s talking about using military force in Greenland" after he was asked whether he expressed his opposition to the idea to Trump.
"They’re looking at diplomatic channels," Johnson told reporters.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement yesterday that Trump's team was discussing "a range of options" to acquire Greenland, adding, "utilizing the U.S. Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal."
Asked about Leavitt's comments on using the military, Johnson said that "the U.S. always has military options for everything."
"I think it’s a general statement," he said. "I think with Greenland, it’s very clear that we are working on their diplomatic channels."
Trump admin says it’s withholding social safety net money from 5 states over fraud concerns
Trump’s administration said yesterday that it is withholding funding for programs that support needy families with children in five Democratic-led states over concerns about fraud.
The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the program, will require the states to provide extra documentation to access the funds.
“Families who rely on child care and family assistance programs deserve confidence that these resources are used lawfully and for their intended purpose,” HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said in a statement.
The administration has not laid out details about the fraud allegations.
HHS said in a statement last evening that it “identified concerns that these benefits intended for American citizens and lawful residents may have been improperly provided to individuals who are not eligible under federal law.”
Five states — California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York — are targeted, and HHS said they had been notified.
White House launches website to rewrite history of Jan. 6 attack
Trump released a controversial new website to mark the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol that aims to rewrite the history of the day. It calls the rioters “peaceful protestors” and blames the capital police officers for deliberately escalating tensions. NBC’s Peter Alexander reports for "TODAY."
Judge orders Lindsey Halligan to explain why she’s still serving as U.S. attorney after previous ruling against her
A federal judge yesterday ordered Trump ally Lindsey Halligan to explain why she continues to call herself the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia even though another judge determined in November that she had been unlawfully appointed to the position.
U.S. District Judge David Novak of Richmond issued a three-page order demanding to know why Halligan is still serving in the post. Halligan, who unsuccessfully prosecuted former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, is also referred to as U.S. attorney by the Justice Department in official documents.
The judge’s order is unusual because he issued it on his own, not at the request of defense attorneys. It came in a case involving a carjacking and attempted bank robbery suspect who was indicted last month.
Novak gave Halligan seven days to respond in writing “explaining the basis for ... identification of herself as the United States Attorney, notwithstanding Judge Currie’s contrary ruling. She shall also set forth the reasons why this Court should not strike Ms. Halligan’s identification of herself as United States Attorney from the indictment in this matter.”
The judge’s order goes on to say Halligan “shall further explain why her identification does not constitute a false or misleading statement.” Novak also alluded to potential disciplinary action and demanded that Halligan sign her response.
French foreign minister says Marco Rubio told him the U.S. 'ruled out' going after Greenland like Venezuela
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said in a radio interview today in France that Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him the U.S. has “ruled out" going after Greenland in the same way it did Venezuela.
The White House said yesterday that using the military to acquire the self-governing Danish territory was under consideration.
“Greenland is not for sale," Barrot told France Inter Radio. "It belongs to the Greenlanders and its future will be defined in the agreement between the Greenlandic and Danish authorities”.
“It would make absolutely no sense for one NATO country to attack another NATO country," Barrot said. "It would make no sense and, above all, it would be completely contrary to the interests of the United States”.
Barrot said he spoke by telephone yesterday with Rubio. “He confirmed that this was not the option chosen by the United States. He ruled out the possibility of what has just happened in Venezuela happening in Greenland."
“There is massive support in the United States for this country’s membership of NATO, a membership that would be compromised overnight by any form of aggression towards another NATO member. It is an alliance, and members owe each other mutual respect,’
Asked if Europe should push back harder against the Trump White House, Barrot said, “I believe that we are not lacking in any form of firmness.”
“Our position is neither to lament as spectators of violations of international law, nor to throw international law out with the bathwater," he said. "Our position is to defend these great principles because they are right, but at the same time to strengthen and rearm ourselves so that we can defend ourselves against the law of the strongest.”
U.S. backs security guarantees for Ukraine at summit of Kyiv’s allies in Paris
The United States for the first time backed a broad coalition of Ukraine’s allies in vowing to provide security guarantees that leaders said would include binding commitments to support the country if Russia attacks again.
The pledge came today at a summit in Paris of the “coalition of the willing” of mainly European nations to firm up guarantees to reassure Kyiv in the event of a ceasefire with Russia, which invaded its neighbor in 2014 and again at full scale in 2022.
Unlike previous coalition meetings, the summit was also attended by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — Trump’s son-in-law — as well as America’s top general in Europe, Alexus Grynkewich, who a day earlier fleshed out details of security guarantees with European army chiefs.
Witkoff, who has led talks with Russia, said after the summit that Trump “strongly stands behind security protocols.”
