Democratic U.S. Senator Ed Markey called for the resignation of Stephen Miller, the deputy chief of staff for policy at the Department of Homeland Security, over Miller’s recent comments suggesting the United States could take control of Greenland.
Markey described Miller’s assertion as “asinine” and “dangerous,” stating: “Stephen Miller’s asinine assertion that the United States could take over Greenland isn’t just ridiculous, it’s dangerous. Stephen Miller must resign.”
Miller’s remarks came during a January 5, 2026, interview on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper” , where he argued that Greenland should be part of the United States for national security reasons and to secure the Arctic region. When pressed on whether military force was off the table, Miller responded: “There’s no need to even think or talk about this in the context that you’re asking of a military operation. Nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland.” He questioned Denmark’s territorial claim over Greenland, calling it a “colony” and emphasizing U.S. dominance in NATO.
The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump and his advisers are discussing options for acquiring Greenland, including purchase or a Compact of Free Association, while noting that utilizing the U.S. military is always an option.
Miller’s statements have drawn sharp international backlash. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that any U.S. attack on Greenland would end NATO, as it would violate the alliance’s mutual defense pact. European leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain issued a joint statement affirming that Greenland’s future is for Denmark and Greenland to decide. Greenlandic officials expressed anxiety and rejected the U.S. rhetoric as unacceptable.
Critics, including Senator Bernie Sanders, have denounced Miller’s views as imperialism, highlighting risks to NATO and international norms. The comments align with broader Trump administration policies emphasizing U.S. strength and force, as seen in recent actions in Venezuela .
Neither the White House nor Miller’s office immediately responded to requests for comment on Markey’s call for resignation.
