Denmark rejects Trump plan to send hospital ship to Greenland
Feb 22nd 2026
Denmark says it was not informed of President Trump’s announcement that a hospital ship would be sent to Greenland and that the island does not need special health care support.
- President Trump posted that a "great hospital boat" would be sent to Greenland to care for sick people and said it was "on the way".
- Danish defense minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Denmark had not been informed and that there is no need for special health care efforts in Greenland.
- Greenland provides health care free at the point of use, according to the Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers.
- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen posted that Greenland has the same free and equal access to health care as Denmark.
- Trump said he was working with Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, whom he named last year as an envoy to Greenland, and Landry posted support for the plan.
- The ship image Trump used matched the USNS Mercy, which sources report has been in dry dock for maintenance in Mobile, Alabama, and the White House had not responded to requests for comment