The next is the transcript of an interview with GOP Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Jan. 18, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by Ohio Republican Congressman Mike Turner. He’s the pinnacle of the US delegation to NATO’s Parliamentary Meeting. Congressman Turner, I think about that lots of these NATO companions are calling you proper now and saying, What’s the President doing with this menace of escalating tariffs in opposition to us until we hand over Greenland? What are you saying to them?
REP. TURNER: Margaret, as you realize, that is, this, Greenland and the US and America isn’t a brand new challenge. I imply, this- 5 instances–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Threatening to invade it’s a new challenge.
REP. TURNER: Proper. It definitely is a brand new challenge. 5 instances, the US has had a dialogue about Greenland all the way in which again to the 1800s, 4 instances within the 1900s, and the President’s raised it twice. We have now a 1951 protection settlement with respect to a presence that we now have a army presence there. The President’s not incorrect if there is a nationwide safety challenge. With respect to- to Greenland.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Warner stated there was no direct menace aside from from the US.
REP. TURNER: However there are nationwide safety points there–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Usually within the Arctic.
REP. TURNER: Within the Arctic itself, and with respect to Greenland. However there definitely is not any authority that the United- that the President has to make use of army pressure to grab territory from a NATO nation. And definitely that is problematic that the President has made this assertion and has brought on pressure among the many alliance, and there definitely goes to be continuation of a dialogue amongst all of our allies as to what might this imply. And definitely individuals have to have some understanding of what are the essential rules. America nonetheless is for democracy. America nonetheless is for self dedication of individuals for sovereignty of different nations. And, and that is definitely our fundamental rules and values. And definitely, I believe this does put in danger, we’re seeing from our allies, their response. They’re very involved about Trump’s response, and this, it is placing in danger, I believe, Trump’s peace rules, with respect to Gaza, with respect to Ukraine and Russia, his management amongst our allies, as a result of he wants our allies for being a base for his capacity to rally. And definitely certainly one of his rules of commerce and his capacity to assist our financial system, it is put in danger his EU negotiations–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. He is– They’re threatening to explode the commerce deal.
REP. TURNER: There- he had a monumental take care of the EU the place he’s going to go to zero tariffs with the EU, that is in danger. So definitely, you realize individuals, persons are involved. He has prospectively stated that he’s going to impose these tariffs. So there may be, I believe, this time period the place there will probably be a dialog and dialogue.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, there was, this previous week. There was the diplomatic that means, and the result afterwards was the President put this tweet up saying he is placing within the tariffs. So it did not appear the diplomacy truly went wherever.
REP. TURNER: Properly, and there, I believe there will definitely be a dialogue. Actually the, the American public are, I believe, are questioning–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah, nicely you noticed our ballot, shared it with you. 70% of People disapprove of utilizing funds to purchase Greenland. 86% disapprove of him utilizing army pressure to take it. How do you justify and clarify his technique when each our allies and People say no?
REP. TURNER: I believe individuals would like a deal with the financial system as a substitute of a deal with Greenland itself. I believe definitely in Congress, you realize, we’re taking a look at making an attempt to make sure we get the finances deal by, and we do not have a shutdown. And as we glance to the President’s proposal on nationwide safety, we take a look at his proposal on growing our protection finances, and that is how we definitely wish to–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Is it authorized for him to even attempt to use tariffs on this means? I imply, Congress might claw again this authority in the event you wished to place a verify on him.
REP. TURNER: Properly, Article One, Part Eight, does reserve to Congress worldwide commerce and the Worldwide Emergency Financial Powers Act on a really restricted foundation, delegates to the president the power to do some sanctions. And presently earlier than the Supreme Courtroom, there may be this challenge. It is whether or not or not he even has the authority to do tariffs in any respect. Now, relying upon how the Supreme Courtroom guidelines, they could discover he does not even have tariff authority, however even when he’s discovered to have tariff authority, I do not imagine he has the power to impose tariffs for the needs of compelling different nations to promote the US land for the individual, however for the needs of us increasing. Now on this challenge–
MARGARET BRENNAN: What number of Republicans are with you on that?
REP. TURNER: Properly–
MARGARET BRENNAN: As a result of Speaker Johnson was in the UK telling everybody that the President is simply taking part in chess right here.
REP. TURNER: Properly, you realize–
MARGARET BRENNAN: You take him significantly, and if you’re, then what do you do?
REP. TURNER: I– there definitely are nationwide safety points. The President having recognized this with respect to the very fact of that is the Golden Dome, and that there are areas which are going to be essential with respect to the operations Golden Dome is completely a necessary challenge. And the Golden Dome goes to be very, crucial. We have now different areas which are important, essential infrastructure general, the place that we do not personal, and I believe definitely Greenland and the Greenlanders have to determine their future and their end result. I believe that is extra of a problem of asking them to affix us, versus Artwork of the Deal. This does not–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — However we have already got the power to do quite a bit. And what’s so baffling to European allies, and I do know you’ve got heard this from them as nicely, they despatched these troops to Greenland to indicate that they’ll defend Greenland in opposition to these threats. And but the president interpreted that not as assist from our NATO allies, however as a menace from our NATO allies. Does he perceive how NATO works?
REP. TURNER: And that- that’s certainly- I believe you know- and when you- once you look at- on the fact- that, you realize, of the- of the allies that he is speaking about placing a tariff on, seven of them are F-35 companions. Three of them, we now have US nuclear weapons on their soil. And 5 of them, we now have everlasting troops on their soil. These usually are not simply informal allies. These are very robust allies. And that is, if we’re speaking about Greenland, you realize, this isn’t artwork of the deal. That is extra the relationship recreation. I imply, we must be extra on, you realize, how we’d be a accomplice, no more how we’d be obligatory. And this definitely is not the kind of language that somebody ought to be utilizing and making an attempt to ask somebody to affix you in a partnership.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So all these technical factors I take, however you additionally take a look at this from the opposite lens, which is Senator Murkowski stated that that is making a dynamic that advantages Vladimir Putin, “by threatening the soundness of the strongest coalition of democracies the world has ever seen.” Even with out doing something aside from a tweet, threatening the alliance-
REP. TURNER: Properly the factor is- what’s regarding to me is that this. We’re not in Germany–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Does not it profit Russia right here?–
REP. TURNER: — Properly, and in addition, we’re not simply in Germany to defend the NATO alliance. We’re in Germany to defend Israel and Africa and the Center East. Our worldwide footprint is our worldwide energy. I imply, the presidency’s authority, his capacity to challenge energy is- is our NATO alliance, the strongest alliance on this planet. To threaten the NATO alliance to say, nicely we’ll simply pack up and go dwelling means that- that the US does not have the power to challenge energy. The power for the US president to do issues to learn anybody around the globe is to be around the globe. It means to have the ability to have companions. Means to have the ability to do operations. Virtually each operation that this President has accomplished over the previous yr has partially, been accomplished out of and with, and together with, the bases that we now have in Europe and in NATO.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However the Treasury Secretary stated in one other community, the President believes enhanced safety isn’t doable with out Greenland being a part of the US. They’re being very clear.
REP. TURNER: And I really imagine that it’s that, you realize, the President can proceed the- the problem of engagement, however presidential need does not translate into presidential authority.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We are going to go away it there. Congressman Turner, thanks to your time at the moment. We’ll be proper again.
