A tourism business in Greenland has rescinded its invitation to host second lady Usha Vance after Vice President JD Vance said he would be joining her on the visit to the island.
Tupilak Travel, based in the capital of Greenland, Nuuk, announced on Facebook Tuesday that Usha Vance’s once-scheduled visit was canceled after “closer consideration.”
“When the US Consulate called yesterday and asked if the US Vice President’s wife Usha Vance could visit our store on Friday, we replied that she would be happy to,” the business wrote.
While the store said, “Everyone is welcome in the store,” they followed up, stating the second lady was not.
“After closer consideration, however, we have now informed the consulate that we do not want her visit, as we cannot accept the underlying agenda and will not be part of the press show that, quite, of course, comes with it. No thanks to nice visit… Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”
A US delegation that includes Usha Vance, White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright is set to leave for Greenland on Friday.
However, the same day Tupilak Travel announced the second lady was not welcome, Vice President Vance said he would join his wife on the trip.
“There was so much excitement around Usha’s visit to Greenland this Friday, that I decided that I didn’t want her to have all that fun by herself, and so I’m going to join her,” Vance said in a video posted X.
Vance said he would travel to the Pituffik to visit the US Space Force’s 821st Space Base Group.
He also said he wanted to “check out what’s going on with the security there of Greenland.”
“We want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we think it’s important to protecting the security of the entire world,” the vice president said.
“Unfortunately, leaders in both America and in Denmark, I think, ignored Greenland for far too long. That’s been bad for Greenland — it’s also been bad for the security of the entire world. We think we can take things in a different direction, so I’m going to check it out.”
Greenland’s leader, Prime Minister Mute B. Egede, expressed his displeasure about the visit before Vance decided to tag along and accused the US of a “very aggressive” show of power.
“The very aggressive American pressure against Greenlandic society is now so serious that the level cannot be raised any higher,” Egede lashed out late Sunday as news broke.
“Until recently, we could trust the Americans, who were our allies and friends, and with whom we enjoyed working closely … But that time is over.”
The prime Minister also questioned why Waltz was going on the trip.
“The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us,” Egede fumed. “His mere presence in Greenland will no doubt fuel belief in Trump’s mission — and the pressure will increase.”
President Trump has repeatedly stated that the US will take the island through economic incentives or force and made remarks to a joint session of Congress earlier this month that America would “get it one way or the other.”
Greenland was a Danish colony from 1721 until 1953 when it was given limited self-governing powers.
In 2009, the island gained further powers related to minerals, policing, and law, but it still relies on authorities in Copenhagen for its defense, foreign, monetary policy and security.
Greenland is also part of the European Union and NATO as a Danish territory.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Reuters that the US delegation’s visit is “something we take seriously.”
“The visit is clearly not about what Greenland needs or wants. President Trump is serious. He wants Greenland. Therefore, (this visit) cannot be seen independently of anything else,” Frederiksen said.
However, she clarified that Denmark and Greenland intend to remain “allies” with the US.
“We are allies. There is no indication either in Denmark or Greenland that we do not want cooperation with the Americans.”
with Post wires
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