Trump appoints Louisiana governor as special envoy to Greenland

US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he would appoint Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as America’s special envoy to Greenland, the vast autonomous territory of Denmark that Trump said the United States needed to acquire..

“Jeff understands how important Greenland is to our national security, and he will work aggressively to advance our country’s interests for the safety, security, and survival of our allies, and indeed the entire world,” Trump said in announcing the appointment.

Trump had repeatedly called during the first months of his return to the White House to impose American jurisdiction over Greenland, and did not rule out the use of military force to control the Arctic island, which is rich in minerals and enjoys a strategic location..

The issue had been absent from the headlines in recent months, but last August, Danish officials summoned the US ambassador following a report that at least three people with ties to Trump had carried out covert influence operations in Greenland..

Earlier this year, Vice President J.D. Vance visited a remote US military base on the island and accused Denmark of reducing investment there..

Trump said that Greenland is crucial to American security and did not rule out seizing the island by military force, even though Denmark is an ally of the United States in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)..

Landry took office as governor of Louisiana in January 2024, and his term ends in January 2028..