Senator Rand Paul Slams Trump Over Alleged ‘Emergency’ to Force Greenland Sale
By Sandy Fitzgerald | Sunday, January 18, 2026, 3:30 PM EST
Senator Rand Paul on Sunday criticized President Donald Trump’s assertion that emergency powers are necessary to enact tariffs aimed at compelling the sale of Greenland to the United States, stating there is no such emergency.
The Kentucky Republican, appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in a bipartisan interview with Senator Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, also urged Republicans to exercise courage in advocating for checks and balances within the executive branch.
“What I do isn’t anti-Trump,” Paul said. “My opinions have remained consistent under Presidents Biden and Obama. Emergency powers are reserved for emergencies and should be short-lived. We cannot abandon all constitutional rules on tax origins simply because someone declares an emergency.”
He added, “There’s no emergency with Greenland. That’s ridiculous.”
Earlier in the program, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Trump would use emergency powers to impose tariffs on Greenland and several other European nations to block their transfer of the island to the U.S.
Paul questioned the logic: “Now we’re declaring emergencies to prevent emergencies? That would lead to endless emergencies—and that’s where we are now. We’ve declared emergencies with 130 countries. Does anyone really believe that’s a valid use of emergency powers?”
Paul and Kaine had previously collaborated on efforts to limit Trump’s ability to escalate military action in Venezuela, an initiative that was defeated in the Senate after Republican Senators Josh Hawley and Todd Young reversed their positions following pressure from Trump.
When asked about the separation of powers, Paul emphasized its historical roots: “The Founding Fathers determined that the power to go to war is too important to be placed in one person’s hands. It’s not only about Venezuela but also about Greenland, Cuba, Colombia, and Iran.”
He stressed that Congress—not the president—must decide when war should be declared.
“After Pearl Harbor, Congress was nearly unanimous; after 9/11, Congress was nearly unanimous,” Paul noted. “That’s how it’s supposed to work.”
Kaine suggested several legal options for Greenland, including filing a new War Powers Resolution or challenging Trump’s tariff actions. He said that Paul and he had previously worked on similar tariff challenges and expected additional senators to join an anti-tariff resolution upon their return.
Additionally, Kaine noted that it is illegal for the president to suspend U.S. participation in NATO without congressional approval: “These discussions [on Greenland] are not helpful because they push allies away rather than forging stronger relationships.”
Paul acknowledged no Republican support for a military invasion of Greenland, even from the GOP’s most hawkish members, but noted Trump’s tendency to “rattle the cage” with such threats.
“As far as trying to buy it peacefully,” Paul remarked, “you don’t get purchasers by berating them and saying you’ll take it anyway.”
