JD Vance and his wife have been frozen out by Greenlanders ahead of their visit to the island on Friday.
A local business that was due to host the Vice President and wife Usha, during their visit this week has cancelled a scheduled trip. It comes amid anger of the Trump administration’s “underlying agenda” for the visit.
Tupilak Travel in Nuuk revealed on Facebook on Wednesday that the US Consulate had reached out to them to schedule a meet-and-greet with Usha. The trip was initially billed as a family-friendly holiday with Usha and one of her children, during which they would watch the annual dogsled competition. However, after it emerged that she would be joined by her husband and National Security advisor Mike Waltz, the store told the US Consulate they did not want her to visit.
The store owner said that originally: “We replied that she would be happy to. Everyone is welcome in the store. After closer consideration, however, we have now informed the consulate that we do not want her visit.
“We cannot accept the underlying agenda and will not be part of the press show that, quite, of course, comes with it. No thanks to nice visit… Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”
When it was revealed that embattled Mike Waltz – who has claimed “full responsibility” for the Signal chat group leak – and J.D. Vance were also coming on the trip, Greenland’s leaders were left furious, including the prime minister, Múte Bourup Egede.
The shop frozen the Vances out, so they will not visit the US Space Force outpost at Pituffik, on the northwest coast of Greenland. Usha Vance will now also not attend the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race.
Donald Trump has reignited his desire for the US to annex Greenland with comments that are likely tocontinue to stroke Danish anger.
Trump said on Wednesday that Vance and his team travelling to the territory would be tasked with “letting them know that we need Greenland for international safety and security.”
The new statement marks Trump’s clearest intentions about the reasons behind the visit.
“It’s an island that from a defensive posture, and even offensive posture, is something we need, especially with the world the way it is, and we’re going to have to have it,” the president said during an interview with conservative talk show host, Vince Coglianese.
Trump added that whether Greenlanders wished to become Americans or not was of secondary concern to him: “I don’t know. I don’t think they’re un-eager, but I think that we have to do it, and we have to convince them,” he said.