Trending Now - Trump's Greenland Envoy Struggles Amid Hostile Reception
WHO:
The Daily Beast - Jeff Landry, Louisiana’s governor, is the special envoy to Greenland appointed by Trump.
The Daily Beast - Jens-Frederik Nielsen is the premier of Greenland.
The Daily Beast - Mute Egede is Greenland's Foreign Minister.
BBC News - Jeff Landry is identified as the special envoy to Greenland.
WHAT:
The Daily Beast - Landry wrapped up his trip on Wednesday, expressing regret that he only had time to visit Nuuk during the trip.
The Daily Beast - Landry stated, “Farewell to the people of Greenland – I enjoyed the many introductions and conversations. Thank you for the warm welcome and I will continue to work to deepen ties between our people."
The Daily Beast - Videos showed Greenlanders giving Landry the middle finger and children refusing MAGA hats.
The Daily Beast - Landry was followed by a woman shouting, “Don’t come here—go home!”
The Daily Beast - Landry claimed, “You’ll have to talk to the president yourself,” when asked if Trump still wanted Greenland to become part of the U.S.
The Daily Beast - Landry joked that local children could visit Louisiana and “have all the chocolate chip cookies you can eat.”
BBC News - Landry stated, “I think it’s time for the US to put its footprint back on Greenland,” during his visit.
The Guardian - Landry mentioned that the U.S. wants to open three new military bases in southern Greenland.
The Daily Beast - Landry stated, “Greenland was not on the map until Donald Trump put it on the map,” emphasizing the U.S. had ignored Greenland prior to Trump's involvement.
The Guardian - Landry claimed, “I think it’s time for the US to put its footprint back on Greenland,” during his visit.
BBC News - Landry mentioned that the U.S. wants to open three new military bases in southern Greenland.
BBC News - Landry expressed that he believes there are “incredible opportunities that can actually lift Greenlanders from dependency to independence.”
BBC News - Greenland's health minister, Anna Wangenheim, criticized the presence of a U.S. doctor accompanying Landry, stating, “Greenlanders are not guinea pigs in a geopolitical project.”
The Daily Beast - Landry began an unofficial visit to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, with no meetings scheduled with politicians.
The Daily Beast - Landry expressed that he was sent to “make a bunch of friends” and to build relationships.
The Daily Beast - Landry claimed that before Trump, the United States had ignored Greenland.
The Daily Beast - Landry stated that he would discuss “opportunities” for Greenland with Trump.
The Daily Beast - Nielsen indicated that there was “progress” with America after meeting with Landry.
The Daily Beast - Landry attended a “Future Greenland” business conference, which he was not invited to, but was open to the public.
WHERE:
The Daily Beast - The visit took place in Nuuk, Greenland.
The Daily Beast - The “Future Greenland” business conference was held in Greenland.
WHEN:
The Daily Beast - Landry arrived in Nuuk on a Sunday.
The Daily Beast - Landry met with Greenland’s premier and Foreign Minister on a Monday.
The Daily Beast - Landry attended the business conference on a Tuesday.
WHY:
The Daily Beast - Nielsen emphasized, “The Greenlandic people are not for sale. Greenlandic self-determination is not something that can be negotiated.”
The Guardian - Trump has argued that the U.S. needs to control Greenland due to national security concerns, claiming it risks falling into the hands of China or Russia.
The Daily Beast - Trump wants to gain control of Greenland to bolster U.S. national security in the Arctic.
The Daily Beast - Landry's mission is to build relationships and create opportunities for Greenlanders.
HOW:
The Daily Beast - Landry attempted to engage with local reporters and asked questions about Greenland's diplomatic history.
The Daily Beast - Landry offered MAGA hats to local children, which many declined.
(UPDATED May 21, 2026 14:05 UTC)
During a recent trip to Greenland, Landry expressed his regret for only being able to visit Nuuk, while also thanking the locals for their warm welcome and promising to strengthen ties between the two peoples. However, his visit was met with mixed reactions, as videos surfaced showing Greenlanders giving him the middle finger and children refusing MAGA hats, alongside a woman shouting for him to go home. Landry also mentioned plans for the U.S. to open three new military bases in southern Greenland, despite Nielsen's strong statement that the Greenlandic people are not for sale and their self-determination cannot be negotiated.
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(UPDATED May 21, 2026 04:21 UTC)
During a recent visit to Greenland, Landry emphasized that the U.S. had largely ignored the territory until Trump brought it to the forefront, stating, “Greenland was not on the map until Donald Trump put it on the map.” He also mentioned plans for the U.S. to establish three new military bases in southern Greenland, asserting that it's time for the U.S. to reestablish its presence there. However, Greenland's health minister, Anna Wangenheim, voiced concerns about the U.S. involvement, declaring, “Greenlanders are not guinea pigs in a geopolitical project.”
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(UPDATED May 20, 2026 19:46 UTC)
Jeff Landry, Louisiana's governor, has been appointed by Trump as the special envoy to Greenland and has begun an unofficial visit to Nuuk, the capital, with the goal of building relationships and making friends. During his trip, Landry attended a public business conference called “Future Greenland” and engaged with local reporters while also attempting to connect with the community, even offering MAGA hats to local children, though many declined. Greenland's premier, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, noted that there has been “progress” with America following their meetings, as Landry aims to discuss opportunities for Greenland with Trump.