GOP senators laugh off idea of Trump invading Greenland — but dodge serious questions

WASHINGTON — Republican senators were cracking jokes and outright laughing at President-elect Donald Trump over his suggestions he's open to using military force in Panama and Greenland, as well as his flirtation with making Canada the 51st state.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) cracked jokes with a dry wit, saying that he would only want to acquire parts of Canada, particularly the more attractive places.

"Well, I think we're selling ourselves short. I think we should add provinces," Cramer said, naming off some of his favorite places.

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"It's gorgeous all the time. I mean, it really is one of the most spectacular places on Earth," he said in a brief moment of seriousness before pivoting back to sarcasm.

"I'm not against going for pretty," he said of expanding the U.S. "And I wouldn't mind having their ports, quite honestly. But I don't really want all of them. So, that's just really me."

Reporters cut through the jokes and asked for Cramer to level with them. One saying that Democrats are comparing the Trump comments to those akin to Chinese threats of acquiring Taiwan.

Cramer dismissed it as being the same because China might invade Taiwan.

"And we would not do that to Canada," said Cramer.

"We wouldn't. You didn't say Trump wouldn't," Raw Story pointed out.

"He wouldn't," Cramer said.

A reporter pointed out that on Tuesday, Trump refused to rule out using military force against Panama and Greenland.

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"Well, again," Cramer said with a chuckle. "It would be a dang short fight. But, no, I think if we intend to take Greenland and take back the Panama Canal, good old-fashioned negotiations could probably do it. And a large check."

Cramer then told reporters they're too easily distracted by absurd things Trump says.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) burst into laughter when Raw Story asked her about Trump's interests in Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal.

"I think Canada should do what it wants to do and that Greenland should do what they want to do," said the Republican, noting that Denmark would also be involved in such discussions.

"But there's so many exciting opportunities in the world that it is — I think it would be a mistake to dismiss these things as frivolous," she continued. "These are transformative times and it's difficult to know what form these transformations are going to take. But, I love the notion of having discussions that are a little out of the box, or maybe way out of the box."

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) said he understands "the strategic importance of Greenland and the Panama Canal," saying it was "stupid" for the U.S. to "give it away."

He refused to answer when asked if he thought it meant we should go to war to take it back.

While Sen. Rand Paul didn't laugh outright, he refused to comment.