Officials in Denmark and Greenland on Monday reacted with anger to President Trump’s decision to appoint a special envoy to Greenland, as he intensifies his efforts to take over the semiautonomous Danish territory.
Mr. Trump announced on social media on Sunday that he was appointing Gov. Jeff Landry of Louisiana, a political ally, to the position. Denmark’s foreign minister quickly criticized the move as “totally unacceptable” and said he would summon the American ambassador in Copenhagen for an explanation.
It appeared to be the first time the United States had appointed a special envoy to Greenland. That gives the territory — a gigantic frozen island inhabited by fewer than 60,000 people — something in common with the war in Ukraine, the conflicts in the Middle East, and a handful of other issues; Mr. Trump has tapped someone close to him to manage all of these as priorities.
Mr. Landry quickly made it clear that he understood what Mr. Trump wanted from him, writing on X: “It’s an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S.”
In a post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump wrote that “Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security.”
But the appointment drew condemnation from Greenland and further deteriorated the relationship between the United States and Denmark, which used to be close allies.
The Danish government has twice this year summoned American diplomats to complain about reports that the United States was spying and running a covert influence campaign in Greenland. Earlier this month, in a first for the Danish government, Denmark’s military intelligence said that shifts in American policy were generating new uncertainties for Denmark’s security.
Danish officials and analysts said that while the United States has previously appointed envoys for the entire Arctic region, Mr. Landry would be the first special envoy just for Greenland.
Mikkel Runge Olesen, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, described the move as a “significant escalation” by Mr. Trump, who has threatened to acquire Greenland through a financial transaction or military force several times since he returned to the Oval Office.
Posted by John3262005
3 Comments
Reading this article reminds me of earlier this month when the Danish intelligence agencies put the US as an uncertainty for their security.
Everything I forgot about Greenland, the Trump administration does something to bring it back.
Found this elsewhere. My contempt for my own federal government grows every day.
Landry, who took office as Louisiana governor in January 2024, thanked Trump on X, saying: “It’s an honor to serve … in this volunteer position **to make Greenland a part of the U.S**. This in no way affects my position as Governor of Louisiana!”
this is all so unbelievably stupid. Why are alienating our most loyal European ally