I regularly ask candidates for federal office about their stance on Puerto Rican statehood (which Puerto Ricans have voted YES on 3 times in the last decade). My feelings on the matter go something like this:
To admit Puerto Rico into the Union is an easy, convenient task and one which we all recognize as correct, the appropriate thing to do. To make Puerto Rico a State is objectively right. There are no situations other than dire emergencies in which Congress is not able to take up voting on admitting Puerto Rico into the Union. Simultaneously, it is not illegal to maintain Puerto Rico’s status as an unincorporated commonwealth. Therefore, supporting Puerto Rican statehood presents itself as the apex example of whether a member of Congress will do what is right without being forced to do it.
Look at some facts about US territories: Over 3.5 million US citizens are forbidden from voting for President. Their residents report worse overall physical health than people living on the mainland. American Samoa has comparable per capita income to Botswana. Puerto Rico’s median household income is lower than any American State, even though it has a higher population than 18 states. They do not have voting representatives in Congress. And one of their non-voting delegates was so close with that great American hero Jeffrey Epstein that she texted him during a Congressional hearing and asked questions at his request. Clearly, isolating these Americans and US territories from adequate participation in the Constitutional government boldly envisioned by the Founders has proved to be a net negative for both these citizens and the United States.
That is why President Donald Trump’s insistence on taking over Greenland is at best irresponsible and at worst viciously disrespectful to millions of Americans who have yet to secure the blessings of liberty enshrined in our Constitution. Florida Congressman Randy Fine recently introduced the, “Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act,” which he says is intended to “strengthen U.S. National security and put our adversaries on notice.” Earth to the Republican Party: Greenlanders do not want to be US citizens. Millions of Puerto Ricans do want to be incorporated as a US state, as signified by their repeated votes in favor of statehood. Despite the island’s frequent election of Republicans to statewide office, Republican politicians stateside tend to posit that Puerto Rican statehood simply means more Democratic lawmakers in DC. Puerto Rico’s Governor was Chair of the Puerto Rico Republican Party and a member of the Republican National Committee for six years, during the America First movement’s formative years from 2015-2021. Rewarding Puerto Rico Rico with continued isolation while dying on the hill of seizing territory from a NATO ally makes these Americans last while turn-of-the-century imperialism comes first.
Taking over Greenland is a terrible idea for endless reasons, not least of which is that the people of Greenland do not wish to be taken over by the United States. Angling for expansion into new territories but keeping millions of proud Americans in limbo as second-class citizens is a slap in the face to our existing countrymen.
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