Trump to Send Hospital Ship to Greenland
US President Donald Trump has said he will send a hospital ship to Greenland, the autonomous Danish territory he has long coveted and threatened to seize by force. The hospital ship is expected to provide medical care to the ill.
Reported by AFP on Sunday (22/2/2026), Trump said the vessel would treat many "sick" people in Greenland, without providing details on whom he was referring to or how many people the ship would assist.
"We are going to send a great hospital ship to Greenland to take care of many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there," Trump wrote in a social media post.
"On the way!!!" he added.
A post on Trump's Truth Social platform featured what appeared to be an AI-generated image depicting the USNS Mercy, an 894-foot (272-metre) vessel normally stationed in southern California, sailing towards snow-capped mountains on the horizon. However, it was unclear whether that was the ship being sent to Greenland.
Trump stated in the post that the ship would be dispatched in coordination with Governor Jeff Landry (R-LA), who was appointed as Trump's envoy to the Arctic island in December.
During Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans this month, Landry posted an image of himself and two men at one of the city's famous parties, holding a Greenland flag together.
"So great to host some wonderful people from Greenland," he wrote.
Trump's previous remarks on Greenland had heightened tensions between the United States and Denmark, whilst drawing global attention to the Arctic, as he insisted that the mineral-rich territory was vital to US and NATO security against Russia and China.
Earlier this week, King Frederik X of Denmark visited Greenland amid growing concerns over Trump's interest in the territory.
Trump walked back his threats to seize the territory last month, after reaching a "framework" agreement with NATO chief Mark Rutte to ensure greater US influence.
Reported by AFP on Sunday (22/2/2026), Trump said the vessel would treat many "sick" people in Greenland, without providing details on whom he was referring to or how many people the ship would assist.
"We are going to send a great hospital ship to Greenland to take care of many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there," Trump wrote in a social media post.
"On the way!!!" he added.
A post on Trump's Truth Social platform featured what appeared to be an AI-generated image depicting the USNS Mercy, an 894-foot (272-metre) vessel normally stationed in southern California, sailing towards snow-capped mountains on the horizon. However, it was unclear whether that was the ship being sent to Greenland.
Trump stated in the post that the ship would be dispatched in coordination with Governor Jeff Landry (R-LA), who was appointed as Trump's envoy to the Arctic island in December.
During Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans this month, Landry posted an image of himself and two men at one of the city's famous parties, holding a Greenland flag together.
"So great to host some wonderful people from Greenland," he wrote.
Trump's previous remarks on Greenland had heightened tensions between the United States and Denmark, whilst drawing global attention to the Arctic, as he insisted that the mineral-rich territory was vital to US and NATO security against Russia and China.
Earlier this week, King Frederik X of Denmark visited Greenland amid growing concerns over Trump's interest in the territory.
Trump walked back his threats to seize the territory last month, after reaching a "framework" agreement with NATO chief Mark Rutte to ensure greater US influence.