US Space Force commander fired over 'partisan' letter after JD Vance's controversial visit to Greenland
PITUFFIK, GREENLAND: Colonel Susan Myers, commander of the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, has been removed from her post following an internal email in which she criticized the Trump administration's controversial ambitions regarding the Arctic territory.
Her dismissal, confirmed by the US Space Force, follows Vice President JD Vance’s awkward and chilly visit to Greenland that appeared to have stirred more trouble than diplomacy.
Space Force removes commander who challenged partisan tone of JD Vance
According to a Space Force spokesperson's statement, Colonel Myers was relieved of duty due to a “loss of confidence in her ability to lead.”
“Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties,” the spokesperson said.
In an email sent to personnel on March 31, shortly after Vance’s visit, Colonel Myers expressed concern over the political messages communicated during the VP’s brief appearance at the base.
Her words, while measured, made it clear she felt the messaging did not reflect the values of her station.
"I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the US administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base," Myers wrote, as per Military.com.
She added: “I spent the weekend thinking about Friday's visit – the actions taken, the words spoken, and how it must have affected each of you.”
Shortly after, she was relieved of her duties by Colonel Kenneth Klock, an act that many see as a sharp example of how politically charged the issue of Greenland has become under the Trump-Vance administration.
JD Vance faces local outrage in Greenland
The backdrop to this controversy is President Donald Trump’s long-standing desire to bring Greenland, currently a self-governing territory of Denmark, under US control.
Trump has said on numerous occasions that the US “have to have” Greenland and that they will get it “one way or the other.”
His administration’s renewed focus on Greenland as a strategic asset has sparked local and international backlash, especially as the island has made its own strides toward independence under Denmark’s flag.
JD Vance’s visit to Greenland was anything but diplomatic.
Local reports described US officials going door-to-door to find residents willing to meet with the vice president, but finding few takers.
Some Greenlanders openly stated they would “turn their backs” on him if he appeared in public.
Vance’s blunt remark during the visit, “Cold as s**t here”,only further alienated the locals, reinforcing an image of tone-deaf leadership.
His visit was limited to the Pituffik Space Base, where he spent only a few hours, accompanied by his wife, Usha.
A photograph taken during the visit shows Colonel Myers standing with the couple, a moment that belies the storm that would follow.
JD Vance sparks controversy with comments on Denmark
Adding fuel to the fire, Vance also made derogatory remarks about Denmark, questioning its ability to keep Greenland safe from global threats.
“[Denmark] had to keep the people of Greenland safe from a lot of very aggressive incursions from Russia, from China, and other nations,” Vance said.
He went further, claiming that he supported Greenland’s “self-determination” away from Denmark (despite the territory already pursuing increased autonomy), and declared: “We think we're going to be able to cut a deal, Donald Trump-style, to ensure the security of this territory.”
Colonel Myers’ firing underscores the growing tension within US leadership over how to handle Greenland, both politically and diplomatically.
While the Trump administration is doubling down on bold, transactional rhetoric, critics fear the strategy is isolating the very people the US claims to want to protect.
