- - Greenland leader 'sad' over Trump’s special envoy appointment

Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY December 23, 2025 at 4:15 AM

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Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Dec. 23 that he was "sad" and disappointed that President Donald Trump has renewed his interest in acquiring Denmark's island territory by appointing a special envoy to the Arctic island.

Nielsen made the comments in a Facebook post a day after Trump asserted that the United States needs Greenland for its national security and named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as his representative to "lead the charge."

Landry took office as governor in January 2024 and has publicly supported Trump's idea. Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen have repeatedly rebuked Trump for his designs on Greenland.

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"You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security," Nielsen and Frederiksen said in a joint statement on Dec. 22.

"Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the U.S. shall not take over Greenland."

'Crazy beautiful place with dark side': Greenland, but not as you know it

Greenland is a former Danish colony with a population of about 57,000 people. Its local government has the right, subject to a national referendum, to declare independence from Denmark under a 2009 agreement. However, the territory remains heavily reliant on fishing and Danish welfare subsidies. Denmark, a U.S. NATO ally, is also responsible for Greenland's defense and security.

Trump raised the idea of acquiring Greenland during his first term, when he suggested the U.S. might buy it. In his second term, he has floated the idea of annexing it. The vast majority of Greenlanders reject the idea of becoming part of the U.S., though some favor independence from Denmark.

Greenland's strategic location - it sits along the shortest route from Europe to North America - could prove useful for a U.S. ballistic missile warning system.

The U.S. military already maintains a permanent presence at the Pituffik air base in northwest Greenland.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Greenland's leader 'sad' after Trump appoints special envoy

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