WASHINGTON / NUUK — President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the United States is sending a hospital ship to Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, triggering confusion and diplomatic pushback from Denmark and Greenlandic officials who say no such assistance has been requested or is needed.
The announcement came via Trump’s Truth Social account shortly before he hosted Republican governors at the White House. Trump said he was coordinating the move with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, whom he appointed in December as U.S. Special Envoy to Greenland.
“We are going to send a great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there,” Trump wrote. “It’s on the way!!!”
No U.S. agency, the White House, the Department of Defense, or Danish authorities have confirmed that a hospital ship has been formally deployed or even scheduled to sail.
No Request, No Confirmation, No Medical Crisis
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Denmark was not aware of any incoming U.S. hospital ship. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen publicly rejected the premise of Trump’s claim, stating that Greenland already provides free and universal healthcare.
Greenland, with a population of roughly 57,000, operates five regional hospitals, with the largest located in the capital city of Nuuk. Patients requiring advanced or specialized care are routinely transported to Denmark.
“There is no need for a special healthcare initiative in Greenland,” Poulsen said, emphasizing that healthcare access is already guaranteed.
Greenlandic lawmakers echoed that position, noting that while the healthcare system faces logistical challenges due to geography, those issues are addressed through cooperation with Denmark—not emergency intervention from the United States.
The Submarine Evacuation: Coincidence, Not Cause
Trump’s announcement came just hours after Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command confirmed it had medically evacuated a U.S. Navy submariner from a nuclear-powered submarine operating near Greenland’s coast.
The sailor was transported by Danish Seahawk helicopter to a hospital in Nuuk after requesting urgent medical attention. Danish authorities emphasized that the evacuation was routine, coordinated, and successful.
There is no evidence linking that incident to Trump’s hospital ship announcement. Danish officials explicitly stated the two events were unrelated.
Which Hospital Ship Could Even Go?
The U.S. Navy operates only two hospital ships:
USNS Mercy (Pacific-based)
USNS Comfort (Atlantic-based)
Both ships are currently moored in Mobile, Alabama, not Louisiana, despite Trump’s reference to coordination with Governor Landry. Neither ship has been publicly ordered to deploy to Greenland, and no sailing timeline has been disclosed.
Trump’s post included an AI-generated image of the USNS Mercy, further raising questions about whether the announcement reflects an operational military decision or a political message.
Greenland, Trademarks, and Trump’s Broader Strategy
The hospital ship episode fits into a wider pattern of Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland as a strategic asset.
Trump has repeatedly argued that U.S. control of Greenland is necessary for national security, citing Arctic shipping lanes, mineral resources, and competition with Russia and China. Earlier threats to acquire the island—by force if necessary—sparked months of tension within NATO.
Last month, Trump claimed he had reached a “framework” understanding with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to increase U.S. influence in the Arctic, though details remain vague.
Separately, Trump Organization trademark filings in recent years have sought to register airport-related branding, fueling speculation that Trump’s Greenland interest blends strategic, political, and commercial considerations—though no direct link has been established.
Allies Push Back as Confusion Grows
Greenlandic officials and activists reacted sharply to Trump’s claim that residents are “not being taken care of.” One prominent Greenlandic activist wrote simply: “No thanks.”
The Danish government framed Trump’s statement as another example of unpredictable diplomacy that strains long-standing NATO relationships.
“This is the new normal,” Poulsen said. “Trump is constantly tweeting about Greenland.”
For now, there is no confirmed hospital ship en route, no medical emergency on the island, and no formal request from Denmark or Greenland—only a public declaration that has left allies scrambling to respond.
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