A retiring Republican congressman has warned that President Donald Trump might face impeachment during a hypothetical second term if he attempts to seize Greenland by force. Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska suggested that a U.S. invasion of the Arctic territory could provoke backlash from his own party. Bacon remarked that although Trump is known for his aversion to being denied, he might have to accept such a refusal regarding Greenland, as reported by the Omaha World-Herald.

With Bacon stepping down from his congressional role, he highlighted the growing discontent among Republicans over Trump’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric towards Greenland and his reluctance to rule out military action against the Danish territory. “Quite frankly, many Republicans are upset about this,” Bacon revealed on Wednesday. “If he acted on these threats, it could spell the end of his presidency.” He emphasized that Republicans must stand firm, suggesting that Trump needs to recognize the party’s intolerance for such actions and step back. “He doesn’t like to hear ‘no,’ but this time, Republicans must be resolute,” Bacon asserted.

During his first term, Trump endured two impeachments by a Democrat-led House, though the Senate acquitted him on both occasions. While Bacon has previously criticized Trump on various issues, he voted against the impeachments at the time. When asked if he would support a future impeachment related to Greenland, Bacon was non-committal but admitted he would consider it seriously if it came to that point. “I can’t give a definitive answer, but I’m inclined to support it,” he stated. “Invading an ally would be a grave error, disastrous for our alliances and overall relations.” Bacon concluded, “In my opinion, it’s the worst idea imaginable.”

Trump has continued to publicly talk about taking over control of Greenland from Denmark, which has controlled the island in some capacity since the 14th century. Danish and Greenlandic leaders have snubbed the president’s potential purchase of the territory. Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt came to Washington, DC on Wednesday to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, who visited Greenland last year. It resulted in no agreement or major breakthrough, but was described as ‘respectful’ by the Danish delegation.

They admitted that Denmark and the US remain at odds over the future of Greenland. The Danish and Greenlandic ministers also met with senators on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, including Senate Arctic Caucus members Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Angus King of Maine. Meanwhile in Greenland, European leaders dispatched on Wednesday night military forces following threats by Trump to take the island. Denmark led military exercises with France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, Politico reported. A Canadian spokesperson denied to the outlet that the country was involved in those exercises.

‘The goal is to show that Denmark and key allies can increase their presence in the Arctic region,’ a person briefed on the plans said. Trump posted to Truth Social that the US ‘needs Greenland for the purpose of national security,’ and said ‘anything less than that is unacceptable.’ He told the Daily Mail on Air Force One on Sunday that he isn’t worried about upsetting NATO with a forced takeover because the allies ‘need us much more than we need them.’ The president also quipped over the weekend that Greenland’s only defenses right now are ‘two dogsleds.’

A bipartisan delegation is heading to Denmark this week to meet with officials and show unity with the NATO ally.Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator Lisa Murkowski have dismissed the idea of military intervention as unrealistic, with Murkowski warning that any attempt to take the territory by force would ‘degrade our national security and international relationships.’ Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator John Kennedy have been even more blunt, with McConnell calling the threats ‘counterproductive’ and Kennedy labeling the idea of an invasion ‘weapons-grade stupid.’