A resurfaced video from the 2016 Republican primary campaign has reignited scrutiny of Donald Trump’s judgement after Senator Ted Cruz warned that Trump could “nuke Denmark” if elected president.
The clip, widely shared on social media this week, shows Cruz speaking to reporters during the race for the Republican nomination, questioning whether Trump possessed the temperament required to control the United States’ nuclear arsenal. Its renewed circulation comes as Trump escalates rhetoric about asserting US control over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
🗳️ The 2016 warning that has resurfaced
In the footage, Cruz argues that the presidency requires restraint and sound judgement, contrasting his own approach with Trump’s public behaviour.
“What we need is a president with the judgement and temperament to keep this country safe,” Cruz said. “I don’t know anyone who would be comfortable with someone who behaves like Donald Trump having his finger on the nuclear button.”
He then added: “We’re liable to wake up one morning and Donald, if he were president, would have nuked Denmark.”
At the time, Cruz was locked in a bitter primary battle with Donald Trump, who ultimately secured the Republican nomination and went on to win the presidency later that year. Cruz’s comments were widely reported in 2016 as part of a broader Republican debate over Trump’s temperament, particularly in relation to foreign policy and nuclear weapons.
🌍 Why Greenland has returned to the spotlight
The clip has gained renewed attention as Trump and figures close to him revive arguments that the United States should seek control of Greenland, citing strategic and national security interests in the Arctic. Greenland hosts critical infrastructure, including the US-operated Thule Air Base, and sits along key North Atlantic and Arctic routes that have grown in importance amid increased Russian and Chinese activity.
Trump first floated the idea of acquiring Greenland during his first term, prompting widespread backlash from Denmark and Greenlandic officials. In recent weeks, members of his political circle have again refused to rule out the use of military power to secure the territory, intensifying diplomatic tensions.
Because Greenland remains part of the Danish realm, any attempt to seize it by force would carry profound consequences under international law.
⚖️ NATO implications and Article 5
Denmark is a founding member of NATO, meaning that an armed attack on Danish territory could trigger Article 5 of the alliance’s charter. Article 5 states that an attack against one NATO member shall be considered an attack against all, obliging allies to respond collectively.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that the use of US military force against Greenland would effectively end the transatlantic defence alliance. Denmark’s defence ministry has also made clear that it would defend Greenland in the event of any invasion, a stance echoed by several European allies.
Canada and multiple EU governments have publicly stated that only Denmark and Greenland can decide their future political arrangements, pushing back against US claims that Greenland’s status is negotiable.
🗣️ Diplomatic talks fail to resolve dispute
Efforts to ease tensions have so far failed to bridge the divide. On Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House to discuss the future of the territory.
Following the meeting, Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen acknowledged that while discussions had been “frank but constructive”, there remained “fundamental disagreement” between Copenhagen and Washington.
“It is clear that there is still a wish from President Trump to conquer Greenland,” Rasmussen said, underscoring how little progress had been made despite diplomatic engagement.
🔎 A warning revisited
The resurfaced Cruz video has drawn attention not only because of its blunt language, but because it reflects concerns voiced by senior Republicans long before Trump entered the White House. While Cruz later endorsed Trump after withdrawing from the primary, his remarks now sit uncomfortably alongside renewed debate over Trump’s approach to power, diplomacy and military force.
Trump’s administration has not formally committed to any action regarding Greenland, and the White House has not responded directly to the resurfaced clip. However, the renewed discussion highlights how past warnings about leadership temperament are being re-examined as Trump’s foreign policy rhetoric once again strains long-standing alliances.
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