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.
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