President Trump announced he would deploy a hospital ship to Greenland on Saturday, alleging that many people in the Arctic territory are sick and not receiving adequate care. But Greenland’s prime minister and Denmark’s government swiftly rejected the offer, saying the region already has a functioning public healthcare system that provides free treatment to all citizens.
“It’s a no thank you from here,” said Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on Sunday.
The announcement marks the latest point of tension between Trump and Denmark over Greenland, which he has repeatedly sought to acquire. It also highlights contrasting approaches to healthcare: the U.S. system, where medical treatment carries significant costs, versus Greenland and Denmark’s publicly funded model.
Trump’s Announcement
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform Saturday night, saying he was “working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry” to send what he described as “a great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there.” He added: “It’s on the way!!!”
Hospital Ships and Context
The Pentagon and Navy later raised questions about Trump’s claim. Both U.S. Navy hospital ships, the USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort, are currently docked at a shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, according to social media posts from the facility. When asked about the status of the ships and Trump’s post, the Navy referred questions to the White House. The Pentagon declined comment. The White House did not immediately respond to repeated requests for more information.
Trump’s announcement came hours after Denmark’s military evacuated a U.S. submarine crew member from waters near Greenland for urgent medical care, transferring him by helicopter to a hospital in Nuuk, the capital. The crew member had been some 7 nautical miles offshore when Danish authorities retrieved him.
Greenland and Denmark Respond
Nielsen said the hospital ship offer was unnecessary. “We have a public health care system where treatment is free for citizens. That is a deliberate choice — and a fundamental part of our society,” he said in a statement. “That is not how it works in the USA, where it costs money to see a doctor.”
He expressed exasperation at Trump’s approach. “Greenland is always open to dialogue and cooperation. But please talk to us instead of just making more or less random statements on social media,” Nielsen said.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Danish authorities had not been notified in advance of any U.S. hospital ship deployment. Speaking to Danish public broadcaster DR, he said the announcement caught officials by surprise.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen posted on Facebook that she was “happy to live in a country where there is free and equal access to health for all. Where it’s not insurances and wealth that determine whether you get proper treatment.”
Greenlandic politician Aaja Chemnitz, one of two Greenlandic lawmakers in the Danish parliament, criticized Trump’s proposal as counterproductive. “Donald Trump wants to send a poorly maintained hospital ship to Greenland. It seems rather desperate and does not contribute to the permanent and sustainable strengthening of the health care system that we need,” she wrote on Facebook.
The friction over Greenland reflects broader tensions between Trump and U.S. allies in Europe. In recent months, Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring the mineral-rich Arctic territory, citing its strategic location and natural resources. Denmark, which has sovereignty over Greenland, has firmly rejected any discussion of ceding the territory to the United States.