Vice President JD Vance has been slammed following a trip to Greenland, where he took aim at the Danish government.
Vance’s trip — initially billed as a “cultural” visit by his wife, Usha, who was supposed to attend a dog-sledding race — quickly spiraled into a political lightning rod.
While the couple visited only the Pituffik military base for a few hours, Vance used the opportunity to suggest that Greenland should sever ties with Denmark and instead “cut a deal” with the United States, per Sky News.
“We think we’re going to be able to cut a deal, Donald Trump-style, to ensure the security of this territory,” Vance said.
“We hope that they choose to partner with the United States, because we’re the only nation on Earth that will respect their sovereignty and respect their security.”
He accused Denmark of “under-investing” in Greenland’s safety and failing to protect it from “aggressive incursions from Russia, from China, and other nations.”
Greenland’s Acting Prime Minister Mute Egede wasn’t having it.
“Just for the record, the government of Greenland has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official,” Egede said. “We don’t want to be Americans, nor Danes; We are Kalaallit. The Americans and their leader must understand that.”
“We are not for sale and cannot simply be taken. Our future will be decided by us in Greenland.”
JD Vance’s visit has caused anxiety in Greenland. Credit: Jim Watson – Pool/Getty
While his comments could be deemed as inflammatory, it was another remark the VP made that’s got everyone talking.
Arriving at the frozen Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland on March 28, Vance uttered: “It’s cold as s*** here, nobody told me.”
Given that Greenland is famous for its snowy landscapes, the cold temperature probably shouldn’t have come as a surprise… especially for an administration attempting to acquire it.
People were quick to ridiculed the Vice President, with one person saying: “Maybe he thought Greenland would be… green?”
A second said: “This is getting so embarrassing for our country our reputation may never recover. Now we are exporting our bro culture in a way that makes us seem as unsophisticated as we have become.”
While a third added: “He’s the vice-president of a superpower who can’t leave the local military base because the citizens don’t want him there…”
The visit marks a renewed effort by President Donald Trump to acquire Greenland for strategic reasons. Trump has repeatedly argued that control of the massive Arctic island is vital for both national and global security.
“We need Greenland, very importantly, for international security,” Trump said. “We have to have Greenland. It’s not a question of: ‘Do you think we can do without it?’ We can’t.”
Neither the governments of Denmark or Greenland want the U.S to control the territory. Credit: Jim Watson – Pool / Getty
He cited concerns over Chinese and Russian ships navigating Arctic waterways and noted that Greenland’s mineral-rich landscape makes it a target for global interest.
Back in Washington, Trump doubled down: “Its waterways have Chinese and Russian ships all over the place… We have to have Greenland to guarantee peace of the entire world.”
Denmark — Greenland’s official governing state since 1721 — has firmly rejected Vance’s critique and the idea of a U.S. takeover, per BBC News.
King Frederik of Denmark posted a message online in response: “We live in an altered reality. There should be no doubt that my love for Greenland and my connectedness to the people of Greenland are intact.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also pushed back: “For many years we have stood side by side with the Americans in very difficult situations. Therefore, it is not an accurate way for the vice-president to refer to Denmark.”
Frederiksen noted Denmark had already increased Arctic surveillance, with plans to add more ships, drones, and satellites. “We are ready – day and night – to co-operate with the Americans. A cooperation that must be based on the necessary international rules of the game.”
