Denmark Condemns Trump’s Greenland Appointment as “Completely Unacceptable”

By Jim Mishler | Tuesday, 23 December 2025 07:35 PM EST

Denmark has strongly rejected President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland after he named Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the administration’s special envoy to the territory. Despite Copenhagen’s insistence that the Arctic island is not for sale, Denmark has taken a firm stance on the issue.

“President Trump’s announcement about the appointment of a special envoy to Greenland — and in particular its statements about the purpose hereby — is completely unacceptable,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a post on Facebook that was translated by the social media platform.

“The Danish Kingdom — which consists of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, where I am right now — is sovereign and cannot accept that others question it,” Rasmussen added.

Rasmussen has previously used similarly strong language to describe efforts to assert U.S. control over Greenland.

On Sunday, Trump posted on Truth Social: “I am pleased to announce that I am appointing the GREAT Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, as the United States Special Envoy to Greenland.”

Trump stated that Landry supports his ongoing effort to establish a U.S. foothold in Greenland and emphasized that “Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country’s Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World.”

The former Trump campaign proposal has been a recurring theme since 2024, when he argued that Greenland’s strategic location and natural resources make it vital to U.S. interests, despite opposition from Denmark. This stance has continued into his presidency.

Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, hosted a U.S. delegation in early December to review bilateral connections. The meetings involved discussions on how the two governments might cooperate “in a number of important areas,” according to Greenland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Science. Separate discussions with Danish leaders were also held.

Greenland operates under an arrangement that reflects its historical ties to Denmark while allowing it significant self-rule in domestic affairs, though Denmark retains control over foreign policy, defense, and monetary matters.

Jim Mishler is a seasoned reporter and news director with decades of experience covering crime, politics, and environmental issues.