Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on Monday rebuked President Donald Trump’s appointment of a special envoy to Greenland, the U.S. president’s latest move in his long-running effort to acquire the autonomous island territory of Denmark.
“Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people, and territorial integrity must be respected,” Nielsen said in a statement. “We are happy to cooperate with other countries, including the United States, but this must always take place with respect for us and for our values and wishes.”
Trump on Sunday appointed Louisiana’s Republican Gov. Jeff Landry to the new envoy post. He said Landry 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.”
Landry, in a post to his X account, thanked Trump for the appointment and said, “It’s an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S.”
In a follow-up post on Monday, Landry reiterated that he will not be leaving his post as Louisiana governor and detailed his role.
“All we’re gonna do is go have us a great conversation with those folks in Greenland,” Landry said.
Trump has long sought to acquire Greenland from Denmark, first floating the idea in his first term due to the island’s strategic location and rich mineral bounty. He made a push again for the island when he was reelected in 2024, but was rebuked by both Greenland and Denmark despite dispatching Vice President J.D. Vance to the island in March.
The Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen on Monday said he was “deeply upset” by Landry’s appointment and that he would summon the U.S. ambassador to Denmark over it.