U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to send a hospital ship to Greenland with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, drawing a quick rejection from Greenland’s prime minister.
Trump announced the plan on social media moments before hosting a dinner for Republican governors at the White House, where he sat next to and chatted with Landry.
"Working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we are going to send a great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there. It’s on the way!!!" he said.
Neither the White House nor Landry's office responded to queries about the post, including whether Denmark or Greenland had asked for assistance or which patients needed treatment.
The U.S. Department of Defense had no immediate comment.
Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Sunday "no thanks" to the idea.
"President Trump's idea of sending an American hospital ship here to Greenland has been noted. But we have a public healthcare system where treatment is free for citizens. It is a deliberate choice," he said in a Facebook post.
Nielsen added that Greenland was open to cooperation, including with the U.S., "But talk to us instead of just making more or less random outbursts on social media," he said.
Trump’s post appeared hours after Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command said it had evacuated a U.S. submarine crew member who "required urgent medical treatment" seven nautical miles from Nuuk.
It remained unclear whether the hospital ship claim had any link to the evacuation or, as the article noted, "what connection Landry had with the matter".
The U.S. Navy operates two hospital ships, USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort, though neither is based in Louisiana, leaving open which vessel Trump was referring to and whether any deployment had been authorised.
Danish King Frederik visited Greenland for the second time in a year last week, an effort to signal unity with the territory as Trump renews his push to acquire the island.
Trump’s interest in the territory, including past suggestions that the United States should acquire it, has strained relations with Denmark and raised concerns within the NATO alliance.
Trump said the U.S. must act on Greenland or risk Russia or China gaining influence there, warning, “We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not… we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour.”
Russia rejected the claim as a “myth” meant to stir hysteria, while China said it has no intention of seeking influence in Greenland and aims only to be a “positive, stabilising and constructive force.”
Danish and Greenlandic leaders have defended Greenland’s autonomy and rejected proposals for U.S. ownership, while recent diplomatic talks and visits have aimed to ease frictions created by the issue.
Greenland’s government has said it will pursue defence arrangements within NATO rather than accept any unilateral takeover.
Greenland, Denmark and the U.S. held talks late last month aimed at easing tensions inside the NATO defence alliance.
The Academy Awards nominations have been announced, with the crime drama Sinners leading the race securing a record 16 nominations ahe...
A widening conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered escalating military strikes across the Middle East, disrupted shippi...
Two Indian-flagged tankers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying 92,700 metric tons of liquefied petrole...
A long-running investigation has suggested that the street artist known as Banksy may be legally named David Jo...
A sandstorm swept across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, worsening conditions for displaced civilians already livin...
A widening conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered escalating military strikes across the Middle East, disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and raised concerns over global energy supplies. This live report tracks the latest developments.
Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees has said a U.S. travel ban is preventing him from attending the 2026 Academy Awards this Sunday (15 March), where a film in which he stars is nominated for best international feature.
Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly in good health and staying in a “safe place”, despite earlier reports that he had been injured during recent U.S.-Israel airstrikes, according to the country's president.
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washington and Westminster deepened over the conflict involving Iran. The call came less than a day after Trump criticised Britain’s response to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
Israel and Iran continued to exchange strikes on Friday (13 March), as the U.S. and French militaries reported deaths in Iraq, and the U.N. launched a $325 million appeal to help Lebanon, where a seventh of the population have left their homes since fighting began.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued veiled threats to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Hezbollah on Thursday (12 March), during his first press conference since the conflict with Iran began.
A long-running investigation has suggested that the street artist known as Banksy may be legally named David Jones. A report indicates that Jones was previously known as Robin Gunningham, a name long associated with Banksy, before legally changing his name several years ago.
A widening conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered escalating military strikes across the Middle East, disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and raised concerns over global energy supplies. This live report tracks the latest developments.
Ayman Ghazali, a 41-year-old U.S. citizen born in Lebanon, crashed his truck into the hallway of a Detroit-area synagogue on Thursday (12 March) while children attended preschool. Security personnel shot him dead during the confrontation, and authorities said no one else was seriously injured.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday (14 March) that many countries are interested in purchasing Russian oil after the United States temporarily eased sanctions on certain exports.
An explosion lightly damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam early on Saturday (14 March) in what the city’s mayor described as “a deliberate attack against the Jewish community.”
Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery and a key port in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region overnight (13-14 March), local authorities said, causing injuries and damage. In separate action, Russian air attacks on Ukrainian territory killed and wounded civilians near Kyiv, officials reported.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 13rd of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile on Saturday (14 March), Japanese and South Korean officials said. The development comes amid the joint annual U.S.-South Korea "Freedom Shield" military drills and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to Washington.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment