Chuck Schumer says Democrats to block Trump’s Greenland tariffs: 'He is only making things worse'

WASHINGTON, DC: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer revealed Saturday, January 17, that Democrats are gearing up for a showdown with President Donald Trump over his latest tariff threat tied to Greenland.

Schumer said Senate Democrats will introduce legislation aimed at blocking Trump’s newly announced 10 percent tariffs on European countries, which the commander-in-chief unveiled as part of his renewed push for the US to acquire Greenland.

“Donald Trump’s foolhardy tariffs have already driven up prices and damaged our economy, and now he is only making things worse,” Schumer said in a statement. “It is incredible that he wants to double down on the stupidity by imposing tariffs on our closest allies for his quixotic quest to take over Greenland.”

He added that Democrats intend to act quickly. “Senate Democrats will introduce legislation to block these tariffs before they do further damage to the American economy and our allies in Europe,” Schumer said.

Trump ties tariffs to Greenland push

Trump announced the tariffs earlier Saturday on Truth Social. “World Peace is at stake!” Trump wrote, claiming the tariffs would remain in place “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”

Trump doubled down on his long-standing argument that Greenland is critical to US national security. “China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it,” he said.

He mocked Denmark’s military presence on the massive Arctic island. “They currently have two dogsleds as protection, one added recently. Only the United States of America, under PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP, can play in this game, and very successfully, at that!” he added.

Under Trump’s plan, a 10 percent tariff would be imposed on goods from NATO countries with a military presence tied to Greenland. He specifically named Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland.

Trump warned that those tariffs would climb to 25 percent in June if the US fails to secure a deal to purchase the self-governing territory.

European leaders push back

The tariff threat sparked criticism from leaders across Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer both spoke out, with Macron warning that Europe would respond in a “united and coordinated manner” if the measures are implemented.

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas argued that the proposed tariffs would ultimately benefit America’s adversaries. According to her, Russia and China “are the ones who benefit” from the move.

European officials also announced that a major US–European Union trade deal touted last year by Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has now been put on hold. Von der Leyen warned Saturday that tariffs “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.”

She also addressed the Greenland issue. “Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. They are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole," she posted on X.

Von der Leyen added, “We have consistently underlined our shared transatlantic interest in peace and security in the Arctic, including through NATO. The pre-coordinated Danish exercise, conducted with allies, responds to the need to strengthen Arctic security and poses no threat to anyone.”

Bipartisan blowback at home

Trump’s comments about Greenland, including his past suggestion that the U.S. could take the territory by military force, have faced resistance from U.S. lawmakers as well.

Republican Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska both criticized the tariffs.

Tillis called them “bad for America, bad for American businesses, and bad for America’s allies.”

Murkowski warned the move could further strain relationships with Europe.

“We are already seeing the consequences of these measures in real time: our NATO allies are being forced to divert attention and resources to Greenland, a dynamic that plays directly into Putin’s hands by threatening the stability of the strongest coalition of democracies the world has ever seen,” Murkowski wrote on X.

Whether European lawmakers will retaliate remains uncertain. Karin Karlsboro, a Swedish member of the European Parliament, told Politico that lawmakers could consider using the EU’s anti-coercion instrument to impose punitive measures in response to Trump’s proposed tariffs.