Jeffries positions Democrats against Trump's expansionism

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Source: Axios

3 hours ago


House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday signaled that Democrats can be expected to form ranks against President-elect Trump's vision of a new U.S. imperialism.

Why it matters: Should Trump's musings morph into a serious push to expand the nation's borders, opposition from Democrats could make it difficult to get the kind of congressional approval he would need.

Trump on Tuesday declined to rule out using military force to seize the Panama Canal and Greenland — an autonomous territory of Denmark — while also proposing the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the "Gulf of America."

The leaders of Denmark, Greenland and Panama have pushed back forcefully against the idea of willingly giving up territory to the U.S.

Driving the news: "House Democrats believe that we are not sent to Washington to invade Greenland, rename the Gulf of Mexico or seize the Panama Canal by force," Jeffries said at a press conference.

Jeffries said Washington should "focus on the issues that matter to the American people: Housing costs are too high, grocery costs are too high, insurance costs are too high, utility costs are too high."

Asked if he would be opposed to purchasing Greenland, Jeffries said: "What about the November presidential election had anything to do with invading Greenland or seizing it by force? I'm confused by the obsession around these comments."

The other side: The ideas appear to be gathering steam with Trump's loyalists in the Republican Party.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said Tuesday — just after Trump's press conference — that she plans to introduce legislation to officially rename the Gulf of Mexico.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/01/08/jeffries-democrats-trump-greenland-panama-mexico