Greenland’s leader isn’t shying away from sharing how he really feels about Trump administration delegates – including second lady Usha Vance – visiting the region this week.
Prime Minister Mute Egede called the visit “highly aggressive” considering President Donald Trump’s repeated expressions of interest in taking over the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
“We are now at a level where it can in no way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politician’s wife, which is a prospect. Because what is the security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to show a demonstration of power to us, and the signal is not to be misunderstood,” Egede said in an interview Sunday.
Vance is reportedly traveling with Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, though neither White House nor National Security Council officials have confirmed that. Vance will travel to Greenland on Thursday with her son and a delegation “to visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland’s national dogsled race,” according to a White House press release.
“The race brings together approximately 37 mushers and 444 dogs in a remarkable display of speed, skill, and teamwork. Ms. Vance and the delegation are excited to witness this monumental race and celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity,” said the press release.
The visit follows multiple instances in recent months in which Trump has said he would like the U.S. to take over Greenland. Earlier this month, Trump told NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte that U.S. control of Greenland was necessary.
“You know, Mark, we need that for international security, not just security – international. We have a lot of our favorite players cruising around the coast, and we have to be careful,” Trump told Rutte in the Oval Office and added that Denmark was refusing to discuss the topic. “You know, Denmark’s very far away and really has nothing to do – what happens? A boat landed there 200 years ago or something? And they say they have rights to it? I don’t know if that’s true. I don’t think it is.”
Trump’s interest in Greenland could be due to the large U.S. military base that is seen as strategically important for its ballistic missile early-warning system. It could also be because the island boasts mineral and energy resources like rare earth elements, uranium, oil, iron ore, lead, zinc, diamonds and gold.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of Greenland’s pro-business Demokraatit party, quickly rejected Trump’s comments to Rutte.
“Trump’s statement from the US is inappropriate and just shows once again that we must stand together in such situations,” Nielsen wrote on social media.
Vice President JD Vance accused Denmark of “not doing its job” and Greenland of “not being a good ally” in an interview Sunday.
“If that means that we need to take more territorial interest in Greenland, that is what President Trump is going to do,” Vance said on Fox News.“Because he doesn’t care about what the Europeans scream at us, he cares about putting the interests of American citizens first.”
Trump’s interest in Greenland ramped up in the weeks prior to him returning to the White House, though he first expressed interest in Greenland during his first term. In 2019, Trump said acquiring Greenland would be “essentially a large real estate deal.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the time called Trump’s idea “an absurd discussion” and insisted it wasn’t for sale.
In early January, Trump refused to rule out using military force or economic coercion to take control of the Danish territory. Frederiksen, who is still prime minister, said in response that “Greenland is not for sale,” adding that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”
