Second Lady Usha Vance will visit Greenland; reactions are mixed

Second Lady Usha Vance is set to go on a trip to Greenland this coming Thursday at a time when President Donald Trump has suggested that the territory should become part of the United States.

Vance will leave on Thursday and return Saturday, according to her office. Vance and one of her three children will be part of a U.S. delegation that will “visit historic sites” and “learn about Greenlandic heritage.”

Media outlets in Greenland and Denmark reported that Vance would be accompanied by Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz. The White House and the National Security Council did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Vice President JD Vance said Sunday that Trump “doesn’t care” what the Europeans think. He said Denmark is “not doing its job” with Greenland and “not being a good ally.”

Vance also added that “if that means that we need to take more territorial interest in Greenland that is what President Trump is going to do,” Vance said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”

“Because he doesn’t care about what the Europeans scream at us, he cares about putting the interests of American citizens first,” Vance said. On her visit, Usha Vance will attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland’s national dogsled race, featuring about 37 mushers and 444 dogs. The statement said Vance and the U.S. delegation “are excited to witness this monumental race and celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity.”

Some officials in Greenland, including outgoing Greenland Prime Minister Múte B. Egede, have described the trip as a “provocation” and “highly aggressive,” given Trump’s stated desire to acquire the Danish territory.

“We are now at a level where this cannot in any way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politician’s wife,” Egede said Monday. “The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us.”

Trump’s idea to annex Greenland has thrown an international spotlight on the territory, which holds vast stores of rare earth minerals critical for high-tech industries, and has raised questions about the island’s future security as the US, Russia and China vie for influence in the Arctic.

While the prevailing sentiment among Greenlanders is independence, should economic realities hit the territory as a fully independent nation, and the country need economic help for survival, it is possible that Greenlanders could be open to becoming a territory of the US.

What we know for sure is that Greenland does not want to be part of Denmark anymore. Whether they will be a fully independent country long term, or eventually become a territory of the US remains to be seen.