Trump Names Louisiana Gov. Landry Envoy to Greenland, Angering Denmark

President Donald Trump has named Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as his special envoy to Greenland, drawing sharp objections from Denmark and Greenland, whose officials said the move undermines their sovereignty, CBS News and NBC News reported.

Trump announced the appointment on Sunday on Truth Social, writing that 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 replied: “It’s an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S. This in no way affects my position as Governor of Louisiana!”

Denmark’s response was swift. Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he was “deeply angered” and that the appointment was “totally unacceptable,” telling Danish television TV2 that his ministry would summon the U.S. ambassador, CBS News reported. NBC News, citing Reuters, named the ambassador as Kenneth Howery, who had pledged “mutual respect” during a recent visit to Greenland. “As long as we have a kingdom in Denmark that consists of Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland, we cannot accept that there are those who undermine our sovereignty,” Rasmussen said.

Reuters reported that Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said in a joint statement: “You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the U.S. shall not take over Greenland.” Nielsen wrote separately on social media that the announcement “does not change anything for us. We decide our own future.”

Trump told reporters on Monday, “We need Greenland for national security. We have to have it,” CBS News reported. He has said the U.S. needs the island for security reasons and has refused to rule out using force. Both outlets noted its strategic location between North America and Europe, on the shortest missile route between Russia and the United States, and CBS News said climate change has opened Arctic sea lanes. NBC News added that its mineral wealth has raised U.S. interest in reducing reliance on Chinese exports.

Greenland is a self-governing Danish territory of about 57,000 people with the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement, according to Reuters as carried by NBC News. A January opinion poll found a large majority of residents want independence from Denmark but do not want to become part of the United States, CBS News reported. Leaders in Copenhagen and Nuuk have repeatedly said the island is not for sale.

The White House had not responded to Reuters’s request for comment when NBC News published its account. Landry described the post as a volunteer position.