JD Vance Goes To Greenland, Picks A Fight With Denmark

During a visit to Greenland on Friday, JD Vance did his best to woo residents of the arctic territory who don’t want him there ― and the vice president also aimed to antagonize Denmark.

Vance began the trip with a visit to the mess hall of Pituffik Space Base, where, striding in during what appeared to be lunchtime, he exclaimed, “It’s cold as shit here! Nobody told me!”

He and his entourage, which included national security adviser Mike Waltz, then proceeded to address the U.S. troops, and Greenlanders more broadly, about the Trump administration’s unrequited interest in the territory.

“Our argument is very simple,” said Vance, wearing a pin featuring the intertwined flags of America and Greenland.

“It is not with the people of Greenland, who I think are incredible and have an incredible opportunity here. Our argument is with the leadership of Denmark, which has under-invested in Greenland and under-invested in its security architecture.”

And argue he did.

Vance repeatedly accused Denmark of failing the people of Greenland, though he offered no specifics as to how, other than to hint at what he called “aggressive incursions” from Russia and China.

Greenland, he said, would fare better “under the United States’ security umbrella than you have been under Denmark’s security umbrella.”

“It’s the policy of the United States that that will change,” he added.

Asked if he could clarify President Donald Trump’s statements that the U.S. wouldn’t rule out using military force to take the island, Vance tempered the sentiment ― but only slightly.

“We do not think that military force is ever going to be necessary,” he said.

“We think Greenlanders are going to choose, through self-determination, to become independent of Denmark, and then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Denmark from there.”

Vance predicted the next step would be to “cut a deal, Donald Trump-style” to ensure the security of both Greenland and the U.S.

Polling suggests Greenlanders don’t share that interest. One poll, conducted by Verian Group in January, found 85% of Greenlanders have no interest in becoming part of the United States, but that a majority (55%) would vote yes to Greenlandic independence from Denmark.