Trump draws Denmark’s fury after Greenland annexation remarks deemed ‘unacceptable’

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK: Denmark’s government has reacted angrily to US President Donald Trump’s decision to appoint Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland, after the appointee openly said that he wanted the vast Arctic island to become a part of the United States.

Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said that he was “deeply upset” by both the appointment and the envoy’s public comments, calling them “completely unacceptable.”

He confirmed that Denmark would summon the US ambassador to formally protest the move, underscoring the seriousness with which Copenhagen views the issue.

Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and Danish officials have repeatedly rejected any suggestion that its status is up for negotiation.

Trump names Jeff Landry as special envoy

Trump announced on Sunday, December 21, that Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry would serve as special envoy to Greenland, describing the island as strategically vital for US and allied security.

In a social media post, Trump said that Landry understood Greenland’s importance to American national security and would advance US interests globally.

Landry welcomed the appointment, calling it an honor to serve in what he described as a voluntary role.

He went further, saying that he hoped to help make Greenland “a part of the US,” while adding that the position would not affect his duties as Louisiana’s governor.

Those remarks triggered immediate backlash in Denmark, where officials argued the appointment signaled renewed US pressure over Greenland’s future.

Longstanding US interest raises tensions

Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States should annex Greenland, citing its strategic location in the Arctic and its abundance of natural resources.

The island sits along key Arctic shipping routes and hosts the US military’s Pituffik Space Base, which plays a role in missile warning and space surveillance.

Earlier this year, Vice President JD Vance made a controversial visit to Greenland, warning that the island was vulnerable and insisting that the United States had no choice but to expand its presence there.

His comments were widely criticized by both Danish and Greenlandic leaders.

Greenland and Denmark push back

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen responded defiantly, saying Trump’s announcement might “sound big” but would not change anything. “We decide our own future,” he said, reaffirming Greenland’s right to self-determination.

Denmark, a NATO ally of the United States, has consistently stressed that Greenland is not for sale and that its territorial integrity must be respected.

Rasmussen said that the envoy appointment confirmed ongoing American interest in Greenland, but insisted that all countries, including close allies, must respect Denmark’s sovereignty.

The dispute has also drawn attention in Brussels.

A European Union spokesperson said that preserving Denmark’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the inviolability of its borders is essential for the EU, signaling political backing for Copenhagen amid the growing diplomatic row.