A tourism business in Greenland first agreed to welcome Usha Vance, the wife of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, but later changed its decision.
Tupilak Travel, a Greenlandic company, posted on Facebook that it told the U.S. Consulate it no longer wanted Vance to visit because of “the underlying agenda.” The post ended with a phrase meaning “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”
Newsweek reached out to the company, the U.S. Consulate in Greenland, and the vice president’s office for comment.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump has said multiple times that the U.S. should take control of Greenland, a self-governing part of Denmark. Earlier this month, he told Congress that it would happen “one way or another” because of national security reasons.
However, polls show that most Greenlanders are against this idea. A survey conducted in January for Danish and Greenlandic newspapers found that 85% of respondents opposed joining the U.S.
The trip by the vice president’s wife has also sparked criticism from Greenlandic and Danish leaders. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a Danish news channel:
“I have to say that it is unacceptable pressure being placed on Greenland and Denmark in this situation. And it is pressure that we will resist.”
Vice President JD Vance later announced he would join his wife on the trip. In a video on X (formerly Twitter), he said:
“There was so much excitement around Usha’s visit to Greenland this Friday that I decided that I didn’t want her to have all that fun by herself, and so I’m going to join her.”
What to Know
Tupilak Travel originally agreed to welcome Usha Vance when the U.S. Consulate called on Monday. The company even wrote on Facebook that “everyone is welcome in the store.”
However, by Tuesday, they had changed their decision. They stated:
“After further consideration, we have now informed the consulate that we do not want her to visit, as we cannot accept the underlying agenda and do not want to be part of the press show that will certainly follow.”
The White House had planned for Usha Vance to visit historic sites and attend Greenland’s national dogsled race, the Avannaata Qimussersu.
But on Tuesday, the White House changed plans. Now, the vice president and his wife will only visit Pituffik Space Base on Greenland’s northwest coast. There, they will receive a briefing on Arctic security and meet with U.S. service members.
What People Are Saying
Vice President JD Vance explained the purpose of the trip in a video:
“A lot of other countries have threatened Greenland and its waters. Speaking for President Trump, we want to strengthen the security of Greenland because we believe it is important for the safety of the entire world.”
The White House also released a statement, highlighting the long-standing U.S.-Greenland relationship. It reminded the public that the U.S. built military bases in Greenland during World War II and the Cold War to protect against enemy threats. The statement criticized past U.S. and Danish leaders for neglecting Greenland, saying:
“President Trump is rightly changing course.”
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen supported the cancellation of Usha Vance’s visit to Greenlandic society. He told a Danish news outlet:
“I think it’s very positive that the Americans canceled their visit to the Greenlandic society. Instead, they will visit their own base, Pituffik, and we have nothing against that.”
Greenland’s government also said on Facebook that it “has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official.”
Meanwhile, Greenland’s outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede told a newspaper:
“If our allies do not speak out loudly about how the U.S. is treating Greenland, the situation will escalate, and American pressure will increase.”
What Happens Next
The vice president and second lady will visit the Pituffik Space Base on Friday instead of meeting with the Greenlandic public.