In a surprising move, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to dispatch a hospital ship to Greenland, the autonomous Danish territory in the Arctic. The declaration, posted on Truth Social, has sparked intense speculation about the true motives behind this gesture, especially given Trump’s longstanding interest in acquiring the island.
Trump revealed he is collaborating with Jeff Landry, Louisiana’s governor whom he appointed as a special envoy to Greenland. Landry’s role, established in December during a Copenhagen visit, was labeled a diplomatic breach. He has openly criticized Denmark’s control over Greenland as an occupation and urged locals to seek independence to align more closely with the United States.
‘Working with Louisiana’s fantastic Governor Jeff Landry, we are sending a great HOSPITAL BOAT to GREENLAND to take care of so many people who are sick and not getting proper care,’ Trump wrote. Landry quickly endorsed the plan on X, thanking Trump and expressing pride in their partnership.
Neither Trump nor Landry specified who requested the ship—Denmark, Greenland authorities, or perhaps locals in need. Inquiries directed to the Department of War were redirected to U.S. Northern Command, then to the Navy, with no responses forthcoming.
Greenland boasts a publicly funded universal healthcare system, but persistent reports highlight staffing shortages and logistical hurdles in the remote region. Denmark pledged 1.6 billion DKK (about $253 million) in September for healthcare and infrastructure upgrades by 2029, with reforms underway.
The announcement came mere hours after Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command rescued a U.S. Navy sailor from a submarine in Greenland waters near Nuuk, who required urgent non-combat medical attention. Whether this incident prompted Trump’s post remains unclear, fueling debates over humanitarian aid or strategic maneuvering in the Arctic.
As tensions simmer between the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland, this hospital ship deployment underscores the geopolitical stakes in the resource-rich territory, where Trump’s ambitions have long cast a shadow.