The U.S. president previously named the governor of Louisiana as a special envoy to the island, with the envoy stating he would work to make it “part of the U.S.”
The United States requires Greenland for its “national security,” President Donald Trump has stated, following the appointment of a special envoy to the Arctic island, which is under Danish sovereignty.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has rekindled his long-standing interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark, citing its strategic position and mineral resources. He has not dismissed the possibility of annexing the island.
“We need Greenland for national security,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “You look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need it for national security. We have to have it,” he added.
Trump’s comments came after he appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the U.S. special envoy to Greenland, noting he selected Landry because “he’s a deal-maker-type guy.”
Announcing the appointment, Trump commended Landry for understanding “how critical Greenland is to our national security.”
Landry later posted on X that it was “an honor to serve” in the volunteer role “to make Greenland a part of the U.S.,” clarifying it would not interfere with his duties as governor.
Denmark, which has opposed Trump’s efforts to acquire the island, called in the U.S. ambassador following Landry’s appointment.
“Out of nowhere, there is now a special U.S. presidential representative, who, by his own account, is tasked with taking over Greenland,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told TV 2, describing the development as “completely unacceptable.”
Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory with approximately 57,000 residents, has overseen most internal affairs since 1979, though defense and foreign policy remain under Copenhagen’s authority.
The U.S. has maintained a military presence on the island since World War II. Vice President J.D. Vance visited a U.S. Space Force base on Greenland’s northwest coast in March, stating Washington was unlikely to use force to take the territory but remained open to Greenlanders exercising self-determination and separating from Denmark.