Trump's new move: Hospital ship to Greenland

Isaac Turner, 

Mariela Quintana Melin

Updated 12.28 | Published 05.13

 

The American hospital ship USNS Mercy, which Donald Trump claims will be sent to Greenland, in a photo from 2020. Photo: Mark J. Terrill / AP

A boat is coming loaded with medical supplies.

That's the message Donald Trump gave to Greenland last night.

- The Greenlandic population is getting the medical care it needs, counters Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.

Donald Trump continues to flirt with  Greenland - this time with medical care.
On the social media platform Truth Social, he posted an AI-generated photo of an American hospital ship sailing towards an icy landscape at dawn during the night.

“In partnership with the great Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we will be sending a great hospital ship to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick and not getting care there. It is on its way!!!”, wrote Donald Trump.

 

Trump at an event at the White House on Saturday. Photo: Allison Robbert /AP/TT

Jeff Landry is not only the governor of Louisiana. He is also the US special envoy to Greenland. He has shared Trump’s post on his social media and thanked the president, writes DR.

In the AI ​​image, the ship is called USNS Mercy – a hospital ship that is actually in the US Navy. It is currently in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Troels Lund Poulsen, Minister of Defense of Denmark. Photo: Harry Nakos /AP/TT

Denmark: “Greenland does not need any help”

In Greenland and Denmark, Trump’s new move has sparked reactions. Some are calling it psychological warfare and saying that it shows that Trump has not given up on the idea of ​​taking over Greenland, writes DR.

– But we already knew that this is not just something that will go away. Even though we may feel that everything is now on a calmer diplomatic track, it could escalate again, and the crisis is not necessarily over, says DR’s US correspondent Jakob Krogh.

The Danish government also claims to be unaware of Trump’s plans – or that a hospital ship is actually on its way to Greenland.

Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen tells DR that Greenland does not need any help either.

– The Greenlandic population receives the healthcare it needs in Greenland. And Greenlanders can also receive specialized care in Denmark. There is no need for a special healthcare effort in Greenland. The Greenlandic government is already taking care of it today, and the Riksfællesskapet if necessary, says Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen.

 

Mette Frederiksen on Instagram.

Mette: “Happy”

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has not commented on Trump’s statement. But on Sunday she posted a post on social media that can be interpreted as a comment.

“I am happy to live in a country where there is free and equal access to healthcare for everyone. Where it is not insurance and wealth that determine whether you get proper treatment. You have the same access in Greenland,” writes Mette Frederiksen.

She ends the post by wishing everyone a nice Sunday followed by a happy smiley.