President Trump posted on social media Saturday that he was sending a hospital ship to Greenland to care for "many people who are sick and not being taken care of there," working with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. The announcement came hours after Denmark's military evacuated a U.S. submarine crew member for urgent medical treatment off Greenland's coast.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen declined the offer Sunday, stating Greenland has a public healthcare system providing free treatment to citizens. He requested dialogue through official channels rather than social media announcements. Both U.S. Navy hospital ships—USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy—are currently undergoing maintenance at a shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, according to maritime tracking data. Pentagon officials confirmed no deployment orders have been received.
Governor Landry, serving as Trump's special envoy to Greenland, defended the proposal, citing healthcare access issues in remote villages lacking permanent doctors and requiring residents to travel long distances for treatment. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated Greenlandic residents receive necessary healthcare either locally or in Denmark for specialized treatment. This exchange occurred amid ongoing diplomatic tensions over Trump's stated interest in acquiring Greenland for national security purposes.
