'Fake tough guy': JD and Usha Vance blasted for Greenland threat and 'aggressive' visit
SAUL LOEB/Pool via REUTERS
David Badash
SAUL LOEB/Pool via REUTERS
David Badash
NEW CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
It could be considered a cultural charm offensive given her published agenda, but also traveling to Greenland are Trump National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. According to The New York Times, Wright and Waltz are not traveling with the Second Lady, while others, including Sky News, report that Vance “will lead the delegation.”
‘WHAT IS THE SECURITY ADVISER DOING IN GREENLAND?’
Waltz is a former Army Special Forces officer who is seen as a war hawk. A Republican former U.S. Congressman, he was the sponsor of the American Critical Mineral Exploration and Innovation Act of 2020, which highlights the importance of the U.S. becoming independent from China for critical rare earth minerals. Some experts say Trump’s desire to take over Greenland is due to its rare earth minerals.
Ahead of the visits, the Prime Minister of Greenland is sounding the alarm.
“The Trump administration’s posture is ‘now so serious that the level cannot be raised any higher,’ Prime Minister Múte Egede said in an interview with Greenlandic publication Sermitsiaq Sunday, according to a translation,” Axios reports.
“We are now at a level where it can in no way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politician’s wife,” Egede reportedly also said.
Asking, “what is the security adviser doing in Greenland?” the Prime Minister said Waltz’s presence is a “demonstration of power.”
The New York Times added that Egede “said on Sunday that Greenlanders’ effort to be diplomatic just ‘bounces off Donald Trump and his administration in their mission to own and control Greenland.'”
The Trump administration’s posture is that this is just a friendly visit.
“The United States has a vested security interest in the Arctic region, and it should not be a surprise the national security adviser and secretary of energy are visiting a U.S. space base to get firsthand briefings from our service members on the ground,” Brian Hughes, the National Security Council spokesman, said in a statement. “We also look forward to experiencing Greenland’s famous hospitality and are confident that this visit presents an opportunity to build on partnerships that respects Greenland’s self-determination and advances economic cooperation. This is a visit to learn about Greenland, its culture, history and people.”
VP VANCE TARGETS GREENLAND
Meanwhile, Vice President Vance has come under fire in the U.S. for remarks he made on Sunday, which were anything but friendly.
“Denmark, which controls Greenland, it’s not doing its job, and it’s not being a good ally,” Vice President Vance told Fox News (video below). “So you have to ask yourself, how are we going to solve that problem, solve our own national security?”
“If that means that we need to take more territorial interest in Greenland, that is what President Trump is going to do, because he doesn’t care about what the Europeans scream at us. He cares about putting the interests of American citizens first.”
CRITICS BLAST VP
Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, now a Stanford University professor of political science wrote: “Trump and Vance have never explained what US national security would be advanced by invading Greenland. Not once. We can buy their minerals without invading. We can open new bases without invading. And even buying Greenland would be a giant waste of money. And Denmark is doing its job providing on a per capita basis much more to Ukraine than we are.”
“The US has real security challenges to address. We don’t need to be inventing new ones by threatening to invade an ally,” Ambassador McFaul added.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, Luis Moreno, noted that “Denmark lost 43 soldiers killed and over 200 wounded defending the United States of America in Afghanistan. But they’re ‘not a good ally.’ These people have no shame, no honor. Hope Denmark is taking steps to avoid a ‘Reichstag Fire’ type incident during provocative US VIP visits.”
Journalist, attorney, and former House Oversight Committee counsel Sophia A Nelson, a Republican turned independent, called Vance “a quack,” and added: “Threatening to take the territory of a sovereign nation, just because is sick, demented and dangerous. Also illegal.”
U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican of Nebraska, chastised the vice president: “Denmark has been a great ally. They’ve served with us in the Middle East. They’ve been key contributors to Ukraine. Greenland is also our ally. We have a great base there and they’re willing to partner more. Let’s be a better ally and not a bully in our own right.”
Journalist John Harwood criticized the Vice President’s remarks, writing: “yes, you and Trump are bold enough to harm our allies and surrender to our enemies congratulations, fake tough guy anti-American freak.”
Healthcare advocate and former Democratic congressional candidate Melanie D’Arrigo said, “Trump wants to take Greenland because Elon wants to control the critical minerals his companies’ products rely on. Cut through the gaslighting and don’t overthink it. $390 million of Musk’s money buys a lot of policy.”
Joerg Lau, international correspondent for the German weekly DIE ZEIT warned: “We are heading for a clash. At some point, someone in Europe will have to stand up to this outrage. The US Vice President is threatening an EU member, a NATO member. We need a collective response to this. Appeasement is not working.”
Former Republican U.S. Congressman Adam Kinzinger added, “In fact, Denmark is one of our best allies, and one of the top donors to Ukraine relative to their size. Shut your stupid mouth @JDVance.”
Author and former FBI agent Joe Navarro warned, “Beware when out of nowhere, a leader says there is a security problem when none exists. Jethro needs to tune it down just a bit, Greenland Is part of a sovereign nation. Nation states are not up for grabs unless you are Mussolini, Hitler, or Putin, or . . .”
Watch the video below or at this link.
March 24, 2025
Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance are launching a coordinated campaign targeting Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory that President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring for the United States—despite firm resistance from Denmark, Greenland’s residents, and NATO allies such as France.
Over the weekend, the White House announced that the Second Lady will travel to Greenland, the world’s largest island, on Thursday with one of the Vances’ sons.
Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance are launching a coordinated campaign targeting Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory that President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring for the United States—despite firm resistance from Denmark, Greenland’s residents, and NATO allies such as France.
Over the weekend, the White House announced that the Second Lady will travel to Greenland, the world’s largest island, on Thursday with one of the Vances’ sons.
It could be considered a cultural charm offensive given her published agenda, but also traveling to Greenland are Trump National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. According to The New York Times, Wright and Waltz are not traveling with the Second Lady, while others, including Sky News, report that Vance “will lead the delegation.”
‘WHAT IS THE SECURITY ADVISER DOING IN GREENLAND?’
Waltz is a former Army Special Forces officer who is seen as a war hawk. A Republican former U.S. Congressman, he was the sponsor of the American Critical Mineral Exploration and Innovation Act of 2020, which highlights the importance of the U.S. becoming independent from China for critical rare earth minerals. Some experts say Trump’s desire to take over Greenland is due to its rare earth minerals.
Ahead of the visits, the Prime Minister of Greenland is sounding the alarm.
“The Trump administration’s posture is ‘now so serious that the level cannot be raised any higher,’ Prime Minister Múte Egede said in an interview with Greenlandic publication Sermitsiaq Sunday, according to a translation,” Axios reports.
“We are now at a level where it can in no way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politician’s wife,” Egede reportedly also said.
Asking, “what is the security adviser doing in Greenland?” the Prime Minister said Waltz’s presence is a “demonstration of power.”
The New York Times added that Egede “said on Sunday that Greenlanders’ effort to be diplomatic just ‘bounces off Donald Trump and his administration in their mission to own and control Greenland.'”
The Trump administration’s posture is that this is just a friendly visit.
“The United States has a vested security interest in the Arctic region, and it should not be a surprise the national security adviser and secretary of energy are visiting a U.S. space base to get firsthand briefings from our service members on the ground,” Brian Hughes, the National Security Council spokesman, said in a statement. “We also look forward to experiencing Greenland’s famous hospitality and are confident that this visit presents an opportunity to build on partnerships that respects Greenland’s self-determination and advances economic cooperation. This is a visit to learn about Greenland, its culture, history and people.”
VP VANCE TARGETS GREENLAND
Meanwhile, Vice President Vance has come under fire in the U.S. for remarks he made on Sunday, which were anything but friendly.
“Denmark, which controls Greenland, it’s not doing its job, and it’s not being a good ally,” Vice President Vance told Fox News (video below). “So you have to ask yourself, how are we going to solve that problem, solve our own national security?”
“If that means that we need to take more territorial interest in Greenland, that is what President Trump is going to do, because he doesn’t care about what the Europeans scream at us. He cares about putting the interests of American citizens first.”
CRITICS BLAST VP
Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, now a Stanford University professor of political science wrote: “Trump and Vance have never explained what US national security would be advanced by invading Greenland. Not once. We can buy their minerals without invading. We can open new bases without invading. And even buying Greenland would be a giant waste of money. And Denmark is doing its job providing on a per capita basis much more to Ukraine than we are.”
“The US has real security challenges to address. We don’t need to be inventing new ones by threatening to invade an ally,” Ambassador McFaul added.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, Luis Moreno, noted that “Denmark lost 43 soldiers killed and over 200 wounded defending the United States of America in Afghanistan. But they’re ‘not a good ally.’ These people have no shame, no honor. Hope Denmark is taking steps to avoid a ‘Reichstag Fire’ type incident during provocative US VIP visits.”
Journalist, attorney, and former House Oversight Committee counsel Sophia A Nelson, a Republican turned independent, called Vance “a quack,” and added: “Threatening to take the territory of a sovereign nation, just because is sick, demented and dangerous. Also illegal.”
U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican of Nebraska, chastised the vice president: “Denmark has been a great ally. They’ve served with us in the Middle East. They’ve been key contributors to Ukraine. Greenland is also our ally. We have a great base there and they’re willing to partner more. Let’s be a better ally and not a bully in our own right.”
Journalist John Harwood criticized the Vice President’s remarks, writing: “yes, you and Trump are bold enough to harm our allies and surrender to our enemies congratulations, fake tough guy anti-American freak.”
Healthcare advocate and former Democratic congressional candidate Melanie D’Arrigo said, “Trump wants to take Greenland because Elon wants to control the critical minerals his companies’ products rely on. Cut through the gaslighting and don’t overthink it. $390 million of Musk’s money buys a lot of policy.”
Joerg Lau, international correspondent for the German weekly DIE ZEIT warned: “We are heading for a clash. At some point, someone in Europe will have to stand up to this outrage. The US Vice President is threatening an EU member, a NATO member. We need a collective response to this. Appeasement is not working.”
Former Republican U.S. Congressman Adam Kinzinger added, “In fact, Denmark is one of our best allies, and one of the top donors to Ukraine relative to their size. Shut your stupid mouth @JDVance.”
Author and former FBI agent Joe Navarro warned, “Beware when out of nowhere, a leader says there is a security problem when none exists. Jethro needs to tune it down just a bit, Greenland Is part of a sovereign nation. Nation states are not up for grabs unless you are Mussolini, Hitler, or Putin, or . . .”
Watch the video below or at this link.
'Just for the record': Greenland claps back at Trump's latest claim
Matthew Chapman
March 24, 2025
FILE PHOTO: Greenland's flag flies in Igaliku settlement, Greenland, July 5, 2024.
President Donald Trump is defending his decision to send a delegation to Greenland once again — but the Greenlandic government put out a statement smacking down his reasoning.
With an administration party including Second Lady Usha Vance set to visit the island territory, Trump told reporters that “People from Greenland are asking us to go there,” and that "officials" from Greenland requested the visit, according to Politico.
But that's not true, the Greenlandic government said Monday evening in a Facebook post.
"Just for the record, Naalakkersuisut, the government of Greenland, has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official," said the statement. "The present government is a caretaker government awaiting the formation of a new government coalition and we have kindly requested all countries to respect this process."
Trump, who similarly sent a delegation led by his son shortly before taking office, has fixated on the United States purchasing Greenland from the Kingdom of Denmark, which currently owns the island as an autonomous type of colony it has progressively granted more and more home rule over the last few decades.
U.S. interest in buying Greenland dates to the 19th century, as the island is rich in natural resources and has a prime location for military reconnaissance in the Arctic.
These ambitions were mostly tamped down after the formation of the NATO alliance, which put the U.S. and Denmark into a mutual defense pact and effectively gave America access to the island anyway. Trump, however, has routinely disparaged the value of NATO, and appears persistent on acquiring Greenland as a U.S. territory regardless of the geopolitical implications.
Denmark has made clear it is not interested in selling the island. And while there is a burgeoning independence movement in Greenland, even most of those in that camp are not truly interested in becoming part of the United States.
Matthew Chapman
March 24, 2025
RAW STORY
FILE PHOTO: Greenland's flag flies in Igaliku settlement, Greenland, July 5, 2024.
Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard via REUTERS/File Photo
President Donald Trump is defending his decision to send a delegation to Greenland once again — but the Greenlandic government put out a statement smacking down his reasoning.
With an administration party including Second Lady Usha Vance set to visit the island territory, Trump told reporters that “People from Greenland are asking us to go there,” and that "officials" from Greenland requested the visit, according to Politico.
But that's not true, the Greenlandic government said Monday evening in a Facebook post.
"Just for the record, Naalakkersuisut, the government of Greenland, has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official," said the statement. "The present government is a caretaker government awaiting the formation of a new government coalition and we have kindly requested all countries to respect this process."
Trump, who similarly sent a delegation led by his son shortly before taking office, has fixated on the United States purchasing Greenland from the Kingdom of Denmark, which currently owns the island as an autonomous type of colony it has progressively granted more and more home rule over the last few decades.
U.S. interest in buying Greenland dates to the 19th century, as the island is rich in natural resources and has a prime location for military reconnaissance in the Arctic.
These ambitions were mostly tamped down after the formation of the NATO alliance, which put the U.S. and Denmark into a mutual defense pact and effectively gave America access to the island anyway. Trump, however, has routinely disparaged the value of NATO, and appears persistent on acquiring Greenland as a U.S. territory regardless of the geopolitical implications.
Denmark has made clear it is not interested in selling the island. And while there is a burgeoning independence movement in Greenland, even most of those in that camp are not truly interested in becoming part of the United States.
'Usha Vance is no rube': Vice president's wife busted for 'good-cop, bad-cop routine'
Travis Gettys
March 25, 2025
U.S. Vice President JD Vance talks with Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin as he and second lady Usha Vance welcome Martin and his wife Mary O'Shea (not pictured) for breakfast, ahead of St. Patrick's Day, at the vice president's residence in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 12, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis
Usha Vance has kept a low profile since her husband J.D. Vance was sworn in as vice president, but she's stepping into the geopolitical spotlight by taking one of their two young sons to Greenland.
The second lady has characterized this week's visit as a goodwill mission, as Donald Trump and her husband threaten to take control of the world's largest island. But MSNBC columnist Hayes Brown cast doubt on her intentions.
"Her mild words do little to paper over the current tensions between the U.S. and Greenland," Brown wrote. "Trump has been clear that he hopes to acquire the island from Denmark, reportedly at least in part because of how huge it appears on the most common map projection. He’s also hinted that it should be acquired for vague national security reasons or to obtain the minerals under its permafrost."
"Neither Greenland nor Denmark has been particularly enthusiastic about Trump’s remarks," he added, "even less so after Trump hinted that, if it were not put up for sale, he could take Greenland by force or economic leverage."
Energy secretary Chris Wright and national security adviser Mike Waltz will also take part in the Greenland trip, where they will tour Pituffik Space Base, America’s northernmost military outpost. Brown questioned why the vice president's wife and school-age son were joining them.
"It feels ridiculously unnecessary for Vance to be dragged into this mess as the soft power side of what’s clearly a good cop-bad cop routine," Brown wrote. "But, then again, the vice presidency has long been regarded as one of the least consequential roles in Washington. By the transitive property alone, the role of the vice president’s spouse must be up there as far as gigs go. Second ladies (or, as of recently, gentlemen) haven’t accumulated the same sort of cache as cultural icons that first ladies have, but that still doesn’t help explain the odd choice of Vance’s first solo destination."
Voters in Greenland recently backed two parties seeking independence from Denmark, reflecting the larger public's opposition to Trump's overtures, and outgoing prime minister Múte Egede denounced the second lady's and security adviser's junket as "highly aggressive" and an unmistakeable "demonstration of power."
"Who knows? Maybe Vance really did want to visit Greenland to watch a dog race with her kid," Brown wrote. "Maybe she got recruited to go simply as a boost to Waltz and Wright’s trip. Whichever it is, Vance is no rube. She’s highly accomplished and sophisticated; that is, she’s smart enough to know that her trip signals support for Trump’s ambitions toward Greenland. She could have declined to go if she didn’t want to send that message."
"No offense to the Greenlandic people, but I can’t imagine that Greenland was at the top of Vance’s list of places she wanted to travel as second lady," he added.
Travis Gettys
March 25, 2025
RAW STORY
U.S. Vice President JD Vance talks with Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin as he and second lady Usha Vance welcome Martin and his wife Mary O'Shea (not pictured) for breakfast, ahead of St. Patrick's Day, at the vice president's residence in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 12, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis
Usha Vance has kept a low profile since her husband J.D. Vance was sworn in as vice president, but she's stepping into the geopolitical spotlight by taking one of their two young sons to Greenland.
The second lady has characterized this week's visit as a goodwill mission, as Donald Trump and her husband threaten to take control of the world's largest island. But MSNBC columnist Hayes Brown cast doubt on her intentions.
"Her mild words do little to paper over the current tensions between the U.S. and Greenland," Brown wrote. "Trump has been clear that he hopes to acquire the island from Denmark, reportedly at least in part because of how huge it appears on the most common map projection. He’s also hinted that it should be acquired for vague national security reasons or to obtain the minerals under its permafrost."
"Neither Greenland nor Denmark has been particularly enthusiastic about Trump’s remarks," he added, "even less so after Trump hinted that, if it were not put up for sale, he could take Greenland by force or economic leverage."
Energy secretary Chris Wright and national security adviser Mike Waltz will also take part in the Greenland trip, where they will tour Pituffik Space Base, America’s northernmost military outpost. Brown questioned why the vice president's wife and school-age son were joining them.
"It feels ridiculously unnecessary for Vance to be dragged into this mess as the soft power side of what’s clearly a good cop-bad cop routine," Brown wrote. "But, then again, the vice presidency has long been regarded as one of the least consequential roles in Washington. By the transitive property alone, the role of the vice president’s spouse must be up there as far as gigs go. Second ladies (or, as of recently, gentlemen) haven’t accumulated the same sort of cache as cultural icons that first ladies have, but that still doesn’t help explain the odd choice of Vance’s first solo destination."
Voters in Greenland recently backed two parties seeking independence from Denmark, reflecting the larger public's opposition to Trump's overtures, and outgoing prime minister Múte Egede denounced the second lady's and security adviser's junket as "highly aggressive" and an unmistakeable "demonstration of power."
"Who knows? Maybe Vance really did want to visit Greenland to watch a dog race with her kid," Brown wrote. "Maybe she got recruited to go simply as a boost to Waltz and Wright’s trip. Whichever it is, Vance is no rube. She’s highly accomplished and sophisticated; that is, she’s smart enough to know that her trip signals support for Trump’s ambitions toward Greenland. She could have declined to go if she didn’t want to send that message."
"No offense to the Greenlandic people, but I can’t imagine that Greenland was at the top of Vance’s list of places she wanted to travel as second lady," he added.
Greenland PM denounces US ‘foreign interference’ ahead of visit
By AFP
March 24, 2025
The US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland - Copyright AFP Mohd RASFAN
By AFP
March 24, 2025
The US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland - Copyright AFP Mohd RASFAN
Camille BAS-WOHLERT with Nioucha ZAKAVATI in Stockholm
Greenland’s prime minister, Mute Egede, accused Washington on Monday of interfering in its political affairs by sending a US delegation to the Danish territory, which is coveted by US President Donald Trump.
Egede said US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz would visit Greenland this week, along with Usha Vance, the wife of US Vice President JD Vance.
Usha Vance was to attend a dogsled race with her son.
Greenlandic media reports said the delegation also included US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a former mining executive.
They showed images of two US Hercules planes on the tarmac at Nuuk airport as part of an advance security team dispatched to the vast Arctic island.
Speaking to Greenlandic daily Sermitiaq, Egede said the “only purpose of the visit was a demonstration of power, and the signal should not be misunderstood”.
Since returning to power in January, Trump has insisted he wants the United States to take over Greenland for what he says are national security purposes.
He has refused to rule out the use of force to achieve that aim.
Greenland — which is seeking to emancipate itself from Copenhagen — and Denmark itself have both repeatedly rebuffed Trump, insisting that only Greenlanders can decide their future.
Egede said Washington had previously been told there would be “no talks” on any subject until a new Greenlandic government was in place to conduct business.
The general election on March 11 left him heading a caretaker government.
– ‘Aggressive move’ –
“It should be said clearly that our integrity and democracy must be respected without foreign interference,” Egede said in a post on Facebook.
He added that the US delegation’s visit “cannot be seen as just a private visit”.
“(Waltz) is Trump’s confidant and closest advisor, and his presence in Greenland alone will certainly make the Americans believe in Trump’s mission, and the pressure will increase after the visit,” Egede told Sermitsiaq.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen — leader of the centre-right Democrats and likely future Greenlandic prime minister — has previously criticised Trump’s Greenland ambitions as “inappropriate”.
Egede urged the self-governing territory’s Western allies to speak up and “clearly support and back up Greenland”.
Ulrik Pram Gad of the Danish Institute for International Studies called the visit an “aggressive move” by Washington.
“They haven’t been invited by Greenlanders. They haven’t been invited by the Danes. They just announced that they will go,” he told AFP.
Greenland’s political parties are currently in the process of negotiating a new coalition government following the election, which the Democrats won.
“Normally, as a friend or ally, you would stay out of that,” Pram Gad said.
He said the visit was aimed at showing that “Denmark is not in control of Greenland”.
– Coveted region –
With no officials to welcome the US delegation, “they will be pushing this point that ok, nobody’s in control here, there’s a need for us to step in”, Pram Gad said.
He said the choice to send Usha Vance was part of a “sham” charm offensive.
She will be “saying nice things about Greenlandic cultural heritage”, while “at the same time you send a guy who’s an ex-Marine in charge of security at a time when there is no-one to talk to in charge of foreign and security policy for Greenland”.
Meanwhile, the inclusion of Chris Wright “sends the signal that we’re after resources here”, he said.
Greenland holds massive untapped mineral and oil reserves, including rare earths crucial to the green transition and seen as a potential springboard to independence.
Oil and uranium exploration are banned, however, and there are only two active mines due to the complexity of mining in the inhospitable climate.
Greenland is also strategically located in the Arctic between North America and Europe, with rising US, Chinese and Russian interest in the region as climate change opens up shipping routes previously covered by ice.
According to opinion polls, most of the island’s 57,000 inhabitants of Greenland support independence from Denmark but not annexation by Washington.
Trump’s son, Donald Jr, also made a visit of several hours to Greenland in early January.
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