Overview of Trump’s Greenland Off-Ramp & Noem Impeachment Chatter
This episode of The Powers That Be (Puck) — hosted by Peter Hamby with reporter Leanne Caldwell — covers two main political stories: Donald Trump’s sudden diplomatic “off‑ramp” on his controversial Greenland plan after meetings at Davos, and a growing Democratic push in the House to pursue impeachment-related action against Kristi Noem over immigration/ICE tactics. The conversation explains the political dynamics, bipartisan anxieties, and what to watch next.
Key topics covered
- Trump’s Greenland gambit: reported “framework” reached in Davos, dropping talk of tariffs and an outright seizure.
- Republican private alarm: concerns that an extreme move on Greenland could be an impeachable offense.
- Political fallout: why Greenland distracts from pocketbook issues and worries vulnerable Republicans ahead of midterms.
- Democratic impeachment push against Kristi Noem: at least ~100 House Democrats signed onto articles introduced by Rep. Robin Kelly over her role in immigration enforcement/ICE publicity.
- Democratic leadership’s posture: not shutting down the effort and quietly planning investigative work in case Democrats retake the House.
- Broader political calculus: reluctance among most Democrats to pursue impeachment of Trump now; but Noem’s visibility makes her a target.
Greenland: what happened and why it matters
- What Trump said: After meeting NATO officials in Davos, Trump claimed he’d “formed the framework of a future deal” on Greenland and boasted the U.S. would “have access to Greenland forever.” He also said tariffs were no longer needed as leverage.
- Likely reality: Leanne Caldwell and others interpret this as renegotiation of a Cold War–era agreement to formalize and perhaps expand U.S. military facilities and presence — not a territorial seizure. The announcement was vague, and the actual deal details were not released.
- Why allies and Republicans were panicked: The run‑up to Davos featured genuine fear that Trump might consider using military force against a NATO partner; even some Republicans privately viewed an invasion as a red line that could provoke impeachment talk.
- Political and economic worries: Republicans fear public backlash and electoral consequences — voters don’t care about Greenland, and tariffs/foreign distractions can hurt the GOP’s midterm messaging on the economy.
Notable quotes from the segment:
- “Everyone also knows that Trump is irrational, erratic… that maybe, just maybe he's that 1% crazy enough to do it.”
- Trump on the deal: “We’ll have access to Greenland forever.”
Kristi Noem and impeachment chatter: what’s actually happening
- The action: Rep. Robin Kelly introduced articles of impeachment targeting Kristi Noem in relation to immigration enforcement and ICE tactics. About 100 House Democrats had signed on at the time of the episode.
- Clarification: Kristi Noem is the governor of South Dakota — the conversation in the episode treats Noem as the public face of aggressive immigration/ICE operations. (Federal impeachment typically targets federal officers; the transcript conflated titles in places.)
- Democratic strategy and leadership: Democratic leaders have not publicly squashed the effort. Caldwell reports leadership is quietly planning what an internal Democratic inquiry into Noem would look like—preparing in case Democrats regain the House majority.
- Why Noem is a focus: She’s highly visible, politically polarizing, and has pushed for ICE to film and publicize raids — boosting ICE’s profile and making the immigration tactics personally identifiable. That visibility makes her politically toxic to many voters and appealing as a target for Democrats.
- Potential outcomes: Impeachment may be more of a positioning tool than an immediate removal mechanism. Caldwell notes Trump could remove or distance himself from Noem if she becomes too damaging politically — even if formal impeachment doesn’t advance.
How Republicans and Democrats are reacting
- Republicans: Privately alarmed at the Greenland possibility; several told reporters that an attack on a treaty ally would be an impeachable offense. Still conflicted because of base support for Trump and midterm electoral calculations.
- Democrats: Many are eager to hold someone accountable for immigration enforcement tactics. While most do not want to pursue impeachment of Trump himself now (leadership counsel has advised against it), they are treating Noem as a more viable, politically useful target.
- Political constraints: Both parties are navigating base pressures, public opinion (immigration/ICE is unpopular), and the risks of being seen as either too feckless or too punitive.
Takeaways and implications
- The Greenland episode likely amounts to a negotiated upgrade of U.S. military/logistics access rather than any territorial seizure — but the vagueness was designed to defuse an immediate crisis.
- Republicans privately fear that truly extreme presidential actions (e.g., invading a NATO ally) would trigger serious institutional pushback, including talk of impeachment.
- Democrats are organizing around a niche impeachment effort aimed at Kristi Noem as a way to spotlight ICE abuses and to prepare for governing oversight if they retake the House.
- For the midterms, foreign-policy theatrics like Greenland risk distracting from economic messaging that vulnerable Republicans want to emphasize.
What to watch next
- Release of the actual Greenland “framework” or agreement text: details will show whether this is a major strategic pivot or symbolic.
- Any public distancing or personnel moves from the White House regarding Kristi Noem (removal, reassignment, or defense).
- Whether Democratic investigatory work solidifies into a formal inquiry and whether any Republican defections occur (e.g., privileged resolution signatures).
- Polling shifts on ICE/DHS/Noem’s favorability and whether immigration enforcement visibility affects swing voters.
Notable soundbites
- “He’s that 1% crazy enough to do it.” — characterizing private GOP fear about Trump’s potential actions on Greenland.
- Trump: “We’ll have access to Greenland forever.” — his own, broad claim after Davos meetings.
Sources: episode interview between Peter Hamby and Leanne Caldwell (Puck’s The Powers That Be). Note: transcript includes some title inaccuracies (the episode conflates Kristi Noem with a federal DHS role); summary corrects and flags that inconsistency.