President Trump announced Sunday evening he was appointing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland — drawing warnings from the Danish government over continued US interest in annexing the world’s largest island.
“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,” Trump announced in appointing Landry, who responded: “It’s an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US”
Landry, 54, added that he would remain as governor in addition to his new role. The former congressman and state attorney general was elected the Pelican State’s chief executive in 2023.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said in a brief statement that Landry’s appointment “confirms the continued American interest in Greenland.”
“However, we insist that everyone — including the US — must show respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,” Rasmussen added.
Trump repeatedly stated after his election and in the early months of his second term that the US should take over Greenland, citing its strategic location along key shipping lanes and reserves of untapped mineral resources. Behind closed doors, administration officials have mapped out a plan for the island to become independent and then enter into a compact of free association with the US, giving Washington a role in certain areas such as defense.
In March, Vice President JD Vance visited US forces at the Pituffik Space Base, where he swiped at the Copenhagen government.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple: you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” the veep said. “You have under-invested in the people of Greenland, and you have under-invested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people.”
While the issue has fallen out of the headlines in the US in recent months, Denmark summoned then-acting US ambassador Mark Stroh this past August following a report that three people with ties to the president had sought to influence public opinion on the island toward Washington.
Earlier this month, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service said in its annual report that the US “is leveraging economic power, including threats of high tariffs, to assert its will, and the possibility of employing military force – even against allies – is no longer ruled out.”
Additional reporting by Steven Nelson and Post wires
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