The White House has said that all options are on the table — including military force — for President Donald Trump to decide how he wants to acquire Greenland. But when asked if the Commander in Chief would need congressional authorization to take Greenland by force, Speaker Mike Johnson declined to give a definitive answer but suggested it might not be required — before walking away.

Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, is not for sale. The vast majority of its citizens do not want to be taken over by the United States. As for national security concerns, the U.S. already has a significant military foothold in Greenland through longstanding defense agreements with Denmark, including the Pituffik base.

Some legal experts say Trump would need congressional approval to use the U.S. military to take Greenland by force.

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U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), an attorney and retired Air Force JAG colonel, on Wednesday told members of the U.S. Armed Forces that any Trump order to use military force against Greenland without congressional approval constitutes an illegal order.

“There is absolutely no legal justification whatsoever to use military force against a NATO ally, against Greenland,” he said. “If any military member, including the generals on down, to enlisted members, if any of them participate in the use of military force against Greenland without congressional authorization, they are following illegal orders. That’s simply a fact.”

But Speaker Johnson, a constitutional attorney, appeared to have a different — and less definitive — take.

Desjardins asked if Johnson could clarify if any U.S. military force in Greenland would have to be congressionally approved. Johnson replied, “Uh, no, I can’t, because, um, it depends on what that is.”

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“Is that not a congressional power?” Desjardins asked.

“Congress has a responsibility to declare war,” Johnson continued. “I think there is no scenario where we would be at war with Greenland.”

“Under Article II,” Johnson added, “the president has broad authority as the commander in chief.”

After some more back-and-forth, Johnson walked away, saying, “Bye, guys.”

GREENLAND.

—> @SpeakerJohnson told me – no, he does not think @potus would necessarily need Congressional approval to use military force in Greenland.

Important note – Johnson does not believe the U.S. will do this.

But still significant statement about Congressional… pic.twitter.com/jwKMKI2gcQ

— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) January 7, 2026

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Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is urging America’s seniors to delay their retirement plans so they can help boost the U.S. gross domestic product, a measure of economic activity.

Oz was speaking at a Trump administration press conference addressing new dietary guidelines.

According to PBS, the new guidelines suggest “more whole foods and protein, fewer highly processed foods and less added sugar,” and note “that Americans should choose whole-food sources of saturated fat — such as meat, whole-fat dairy or avocados — while continuing to limit saturated fat consumption to no more than 10% of daily calories. The guidance says ‘other options can include butter or beef tallow,’ despite previous recommendations to avoid those fats.”

Oz told reporters, “If we’re able to get the average American, who today retires on average, at age 61, get them just to work one year longer because they feel so vital, so strong, so bullish about their future — because they’re feeding their bodies nutrients that are essential to their high functioning productivity — we will increase the overall GDP of our nation by trillions of dollars.”

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“So we will reduce health care expenses at the same time we jazz up the U.S. economy with trillions of dollars created by the productivity of American workers,” he added.

Critics were quick to blast Oz’s suggestion of working longer.

Max Steele, senior director of communications at the anti-gun violence group Everytown, wrote: “GOP midterm message to seniors: ‘work one year longer’.”

A Democratic National Committee social media account alleged, “Dr. Oz hints at raising the retirement age.”

Other social media commentators chastised the administration over the high cost of health insurance, groceries, and shelter.

Oz: If we are able to get the average American who retires at the age of 61, get them to work one year longer because they feel so vital because they are feeding their bodies, we will increase the overall gdp by trillions pic.twitter.com/NLKFuADiHm

— Acyn (@Acyn) January 7, 2026

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As Mike Johnson’s razor-thin majority shrunk even further this week, the Speaker of the House is announcing a trip to London to address the British Parliament — just days before the U.S. federal government is set to shut down unless spending bills are passed by the House and Senate and signed into law.

Currently, nine of the 12 annual appropriations bills still need to be enacted, unless they are combined into larger legislation packages, or a continuing resolution is passed.

“If they fail,” The Washington Post noted, it will “spark another government shutdown just two and a half months after the last one, the longest funding lapse in U.S. history.”

Speaker Johnson may have a difficult task ahead.

On Monday, Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation and retirement took effect. On Tuesday, a California Republican, U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, unexpectedly died at age 65, and another GOP congressman, Jim Baird, was hospitalized after an auto accident. He is expected to recover but his return date has not been announced.

Johnson — at least temporarily — may have to pass legislation with a 218–213 majority. With Baird sidelined, the working margin could be effectively 217–213, meaning he can afford to lose at most one vote on a party-line measure. U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has a history of voting against the Trump agenda, and already there are other signs of trouble.

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On a procedural vote for a Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill on Wednesday, Republicans were already scrambling.

“With absences and the extremely tight margin, the rule [vote] is going to be close again today. Dems are not expected to help Johnson,” reported Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman.

Punchbowl’s Ally Mutnick reported that U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) “just said he is leaning against voting for the rule.”

“There’s plenty of us that are upset about what’s in it,” Burchett said.

Undeterred, Speaker Johnson on Wednesday announced his trip to England.

“Speaker Johnson will travel to London to address the United Kingdom Parliament on Tuesday, January 20 in honor of America’s Semiquincentennial celebration,” a Johnson press release reads. “Speaker Johnson will be the first U.S. Speaker of the House to address Parliament.”

“As our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of American Independence, I am honored and humbled by Speaker Hoyle’s invitation to address Parliament,” Speaker Johnson said.

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