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President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States will send a hospital ship to Greenland following a recent medical evacuation conducted by Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command.
In a post on Truth Social, the president said the vessel would assist residents he claimed were not receiving adequate care.
“Working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we are going to send a great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there,” President Trump wrote. “It’s on the way!!!”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry was named special envoy to Greenland in December as part of President Trump’s broader push to expand U.S. influence in the Arctic. Landry has since held discussions with NATO officials and outlined what he described as a framework for strengthening security cooperation in the region.
Landry also offered a lengthy statement on X.
“Shame on Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen! President @realDonaldTrump and America care. After speaking to many Greenlanders about the day to day problems they face, one issue stood out—healthcare. Many villages and small towns lack basic services that Americans often take for granted. Small settlements are without permanent doctors, diagnostic tools, or specialist care – forcing residents to travel great distances for vital treatments that should be available at home,” Landry wrote.
“A healthy Greenland is vital for America’s national security. America is committed to defending Greenland, and that begins by ensuring its people are defended against basic illnesses and ailments. These missions matter because health is inseparable from security. America’s commitment to defending Greenland must begin with ensuring its people are healthy,” Landry continued.
President Trump’s announcement came after Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command evacuated a crew member from a U.S. submarine operating in Greenlandic waters. The individual, who required urgent medical attention, was transported by Danish Defense helicopter to a hospital in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.
The U.S. Navy operates two hospital ships, the USNS Mercy and the USNS Comfort, which have been used for humanitarian missions and emergency response, Fox News reported. It was not immediately clear which vessel, if any, would be deployed or when it would arrive in Greenland.
