Tara Suter [1/20/26]
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Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) on Monday took a swing at President Trump over his quest to acquire Greenland, saying the president “is not rational right now.”
“Well, it seems like European leaders’ strategy so far has been to basically try to deescalate, reason with the president, find some kind of an off-ramp. Do you think there is an off-ramp?” CNN’s Anderson Cooper asked Gallego on his show.
“No, and I’ve been very clear. He is a madman. He is insane. He’s only thinking about himself,“ Gallego responded, in comments highlighted by Mediaite.
“And you know that he’s insane?” Cooper asked.
“Yes, I’m sorry, where are we at this moment where we don’t understand what’s happening in this country? The man is threatening war against a NATO ally. We all think this is rational, right? Let’s accept what’s happening here. He is not rational right now,” the Arizona senator replied.
“He is destroying our world reputation or potentially our economic opportunity or economic mighty power around the world because he is being petty. None of this is rational. Everyone needs to stop pretending this is rational,” he added.
Throughout the first year of his second term, Trump’s foreign policy actions have strained relationships with allies and adversaries alike. Trump has sought to take over Greenland for months, but his threats to do so have ramped up recently. The Arctic island is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO ally of the U.S.
Trump has suggested the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s pick of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for last year’s Nobel Peace Prize was a reason behind his push for Greenland.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Tuesday advised Europe to “buck up” amid Trump’s Greenland threats.
“Do you have a message for Europeans who are concerned about the messages from the White House around Greenland this week?” Sky News’s Paul Kelso asked Newsom.
“Yeah, it’s time to buck up,” Newsom replied. “It’s time to get serious. And stop being complicit. It’s time to stand tall and firm, have a backbone. You know, I’ve seen this in the United States, supine Congress, playing both sides. You know, say one thing on a text or a tweet, another publicly.”
When reached for comment, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the U.S. “is stronger than ever before.
“New trade deals are leveling the playing field for US industries, NATO allies have pledged to spend five percent of their GDP on defense, and eight wars have ended,” she added. “No one cares about Ruben Gallego’s unhinged rants on CNN – the entire Trump administration is focused on Making America Strong Again.”