Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) accused President Donald Trump of abusing his authority and provoking a constitutional crisis after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on U.S. allies unless Denmark agrees to relinquish control of Greenland.
Speaking in a video filmed in Boston, Markey invoked the origins of the American Revolution to criticize Trump’s approach to trade and foreign policy.
“I’m here in Boston, where the American Revolution started under the battle cry of ‘No taxation without representation,’” Markey said. “Now, wannabe king Donald Trump says to impose tariffs on our allies if they don’t hand over Greenland. Even though 75% of Americans are against it. Doesn’t sound like representation to me.”
Markey’s comments follow Trump’s announcement that the United States would impose a 10% tariff beginning Feb. 1, 2026, on goods from Denmark and several European allies, rising to 25% by June, unless a deal is reached for what Trump has described as the “complete and total purchase of Greenland.”
The president has argued that Greenland is essential to U.S. national security, citing its Arctic location, mineral resources, and relevance to missile defense systems. European leaders, however, have rejected the proposal, stressing that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and that its security is already coordinated through NATO.
Markey said Trump lacks both the authority and public backing to pursue such measures.
“Donald Trump wants to be the ‘Tariff King,’ but he’s nothing more than a tax troll with no legal authority to levy these tariffs,” Markey said. “No support from the American people and no support from our allies. Enough is enough.”
“Imposing tariffs on our allies if they don’t hand over Greenland?” Markey wrote.
The senator went on to describe Trump as “a walking, talking constitutional crisis,” warning that the ongoing dispute risks further damaging U.S. alliances at a time of heightened geopolitical tension in the Arctic.
Trump’s tariff threat has already drawn sharp responses from European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, EU officials, and Nordic heads of government, who have said tariffs are unacceptable and warned they could trigger a broader trade conflict between the United States and Europe.
Protests have also erupted in Greenland and Denmark, with demonstrators chanting that the Arctic island is “not for sale” and demanding that its future be determined by Greenlanders themselves.
Markey concluded that Trump’s actions undermine democratic norms and America’s standing abroad, arguing that each day the dispute continues further erodes U.S. credibility with allies.
