Greenland affirmed that it does not need medical support from other countries, after US President Donald Trump announced that he would send a hospital ship to the autonomous territory of Denmark.
In a social media post on February 21, the US President said he would deploy hospital ships to Greenland, saying that the people of Greenland are not receiving the necessary health care.
Together with Louisiana's wonderful Governor Jeff Landry, we will send a wonderful hospital ship to Greenland to take care of many people who are sick and not cared for there" - Mr. Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social.
According to the US President, this hospital ship is on its way to Greenland.
However, Mr. Donald Trump's offer was rejected by Greenland. "We will say "no, thank you" - Greenland's Chief Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen wrote on Facebook on February 22.
He added: "President Trump's idea of sending a US hospital ship to Greenland has been recognized. But we have a public health system, providing free healthcare for people.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly stated that the US needs to buy Greenland for national security reasons. In December 2025, President Trump also appointed Mr. Landry as a US special envoy to this vast, mineral-rich island in the Arctic.
In Greenland, as in Denmark, healthcare is free and uses state budget. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded to President Trump's social media post by defending Denmark's system.
Sharing on Facebook, Ms. Frederiksen said "very happy to live in a country where everyone has free and equal access to healthcare, where insurance and wealth do not determine whether you receive appropriate treatment or not". She emphasized that Greenland has a "similar approach" to Denmark.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen also rejected President Trump's statement that people in Greenland are being denied medical treatment.
Greenlandians are adequately healthcared. They are healthcared in Greenland, or if specialized treatment is needed, they will be treated in Denmark. Therefore, there is no need for any special healthcare initiative in Greenland," he told Danish television station DR.
The Danish Defense Minister added that Mr. Trump's continuous posting on social media about Greenland "is a manifestation of a new normal state that has formed in international politics".
There are 6 hospitals in Greenland serving a population of less than 60,000 people. In early February 2026, the regional government signed an agreement with Copenhagen to improve access to treatment at hospitals in Denmark for patients from Greenland.
