President Donald Trump’s decision to appoint Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland set off a series of alarmed reactions overseas.
Despite the foreign reactions, Landry publicly rejected claims that the United States seeks territorial conquest, framing the administration’s posture as rooted in security and liberty rather than domination.
Landry, a Republican who now carries dual responsibilities as governor and the president’s envoy, addressed the controversy during an appearance Tuesday on Fox News, where he pushed back on accusations that Washington is attempting to seize control of foreign territory.
“Look, the United States has always been a welcoming party. We don’t go in there trying to conquer anybody and trying to — you know — take over anybody’s country,” Landry said during the interview.
“We say, ‘Listen, we represent liberty, we represent economic strength, we represent protection,’” he commented on “The Will Cain Show.”
The remarks came as Denmark and Greenland reacted negatively to Trump’s weekend announcement, reviving tensions surrounding the president’s long standing view that Greenland is critical to American national security.
Landry pointed to his home state’s history to illustrate his argument that alignment with the United States has historically delivered stability and prosperity rather than oppression.
“Look, no one knows that better than Louisiana. My family has been in Louisiana for over 300 years. We’ve lived under more flags than anyone living in the continental United States over the history of America,” he noted.
“We ended up settling under the United States of America’s flag, and for that, Louisiana has been so much better,” he added.
Trump formally named Landry as special envoy on Sunday, tasking him with advancing U.S. interests related to Greenland, a vast Arctic territory controlled by Denmark.
The appointment immediately drew objections from Copenhagen, where leaders accused Washington of crossing diplomatic lines.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen issued a joint statement Monday reaffirming their position on sovereignty.
“We have said it before. Now, we say it again. National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law,” the statement said.
“They are fundamental principles. You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security.”
Lock Them Up! Russiagate is reigniting…
Obama, Clinton, Comey, and Brennan are all on the hook!
CLICK HERE to demand Russiagate conspirators got to prison!
Trump, however, has made no secret of his belief that Greenland’s strategic location is vital as global competition intensifies in the Arctic.
Writing on Truth Social, the president praised Landry’s appointment and signaled that security concerns remain at the forefront.
The president said Landry “understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country’s Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World.”
Speaking to reporters on Dec. 22, Trump reiterated that view while unveiling plans for a new generation of U.S. naval power.
“We need Greenland for national security,” Trump said. “You look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need it for national security. We have to have it.”
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called both Landry’s appointment and Trump’s comments unacceptable and cause for diplomatic action.
“President Trump’s announcement about the appointment of a special envoy to Greenland – and in particular its statements about the purpose hereby – is completely unacceptable,” Rasmussen wrote in a Facebook post.
“That’s why we are now convening the US ambassador to the Department of State for a discussion,” he added.
Trump dismissed Denmark’s historical claims to Greenland during the same Monday news conference, arguing that Copenhagen has failed to meaningfully invest in or defend the territory.
“Denmark has spent no money there, they have no military protection,” Trump remarked.
“They say Denmark was there 300 years ago or something with a boat. Well, we were there with boats too, I’m sure.”
The president also rejected suggestions that the U.S. interest in Greenland is driven by mineral wealth, downplaying resource extraction as a motivating factor.
“We have so many sites for minerals, and oil and everything, we have more oil than any other country in the world,” Trump pointed out. “We’ll have to work it all out.”
Rasmussen later confirmed he would summon U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Ken Howery, describing the appointment of a special envoy as an unexpected escalation.
“We thought that we now had a U.S. ambassador in Denmark, with whom we would have a relationship throughout the Kingdom,” Rasmussen said.
“I think we have already developed a good working relationship, and it is also my impression that the ambassador has that opinion.”
The Danish foreign minister went further during an interview with TV2, characterizing the envoy role as a direct challenge to Denmark’s authority.
“Out of nowhere, there is now a special U.S. presidential representative, who, according to himself, is tasked with taking over Greenland. This is, of course, completely unacceptable,” Rasmussen told the outlet.
The clash followed recent diplomatic engagement between Washington, Copenhagen, and Nuuk.
Earlier this month, representatives from the U.S., Greenland, and Denmark participated in the annual U.S.-Greenland Joint Committee meeting held in Nuuk.
After the Dec. 8 meeting, the committee released a statement saying it “reaffirmed our commitment to a strong and forward-looking relationship based on mutual respect and grounded in shared interests and practical cooperation.”
Despite that language, Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland has kept tensions simmering.
The president has previously described control of the territory as a necessity, writing on Truth Social in December 2024 that “ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” for U.S. security.
Landry echoed that position shortly before Trump’s second inauguration, publicly backing the president’s push in a social media post.
“President Donald J. Trump is absolutely right! We need to ensure that Greenland joins the United States. GREAT for them, GREAT for us! Let’s get it done!” Landry wrote at the time.
The administration’s stance hardened further in March, ahead of Vice President JD Vance’s controversial visit to Greenland, when Trump signaled a willingness to apply maximum pressure.
“We need Greenland. And the world needs us to have Greenland, including Denmark,” Trump said then.
“Denmark has to have us have Greenland. And, you know, we’ll see what happens. But if we don’t have Greenland, we can’t have great international security.”
