US President Donald Trump said he will send a hospital ship to Greenland, saying that many people there are sick and not receiving help, although both US Navy hospital ships are docked at the shipyard in Alabama.
Trump’s announcement prompted defenses on Sunday of Denmark and Greenland’s health care system from their leaders, and was the latest point of contention with the US leader, who has been vocal about holding onto vast Arctic territory.
“No thanks from here,” said Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Trump’s social media post about the hospital ship comes after Denmark’s military said its Arctic forces on Saturday took a member of the US submarine off the coast of Greenland for emergency help.
The Danish Joint Arctic Command, on its Facebook page, said a crew member was evacuated 13 kilometers from Nuuk – the capital of a large ice-covered area – and transferred to a hospital in the city. The crew member was picked up by a Danish Seahawk helicopter that was attached to the test vessel.
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Trump, in a post on his Public Truth forum Saturday night, referred to his special envoy for Greenland and said, “We are working with the wonderful Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, to send a large hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many sick, and underserved people there. It’s on its way!!!”
FILE – USNS Mercy docks at the Port of Los Angeles, Friday, March 27, 2020, in Los Angeles.
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Nielsen said it was unnecessary.
“We have a public health care system where treatment is available free of charge to citizens. That’s a deliberate choice — and it’s an important part of our society,” Nielsen said. “It doesn’t work like that in the USA, where it costs money to see a doctor.”
He added, on a note of exasperation, that Greenland is always open to dialogue and cooperation. “But please talk to us instead of just making random statements on social media,” she said.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, speaking to public broadcaster DR, said that the Danish authorities had not been informed that the American ship was on its way.
The Pentagon referred questions about the condition of two US Navy hospital ships, USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort, to the White House. The White House did not immediately respond to repeated requests for more information.
Both ships are currently docked in Mobile, Ala., according to social media from the shipyard, which also posted photos of themselves next to each other.
When asked about the status of the fleet and the president’s position, the Navy referred questions to the White House.
The strong post-World War II bilateral relationship between NATO allies, Denmark and the United States, has come under severe pressure in recent months as Trump has raised the possibility of the US seizing the mineral-rich island in the Arctic.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen defended Denmark’s healthcare system on Sunday, writing on Facebook that he is “happy to live in a country where there is free and equal access to healthcare for all. Where insurance and wealth do not determine whether you get the right treatment.”
“You have the same way in Greenland,” he said, before adding: “Good Sunday everyone” in front of a shy, smiling emoji.
Aaja Chemnitz, one of two Greenlandic politicians in the Danish parliament, wrote on Facebook that “Donald Trump wants to send a poorly maintained hospital ship to Greenland.
“Another day. Another crazy story,” she wrote in front of a smiley face emoji.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
