This photo taken on Feb. 6, 2026 shows the seaside scenery in Nuuk, Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. (Photo by Li Ying/Xinhua via Getty Images)
U.S. President Donald Trump said over the weekend that he is sending a U.S. Navy hospital ship to Greenland because people there are sick and lack care.
But Greenland is pushing back, saying "no thanks" and praising its health care system.
Greenland hospital ship
The backstory:
Denmark's military said its arctic command forces on Saturday evacuated a crew member of a U.S. submarine off the coast of Greenland for urgent medical treatment.
The Danish Joint Arctic Command, on its Facebook page, said the crew member was evacuated some 8 miles off Greenland’s capital of Nuuk and transferred to a hospital in the city. The crew member was retrieved by a Danish Seahawk helicopter that had been deployed on an inspection ship.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday night, referred to his special envoy for Greenland and said, "Working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we are going to send a great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there. It’s on the way!!!"
RELATED: Majority of Americans disapprove of Trump's push to gain control of Greenland: Poll
Presently:
On Sunday, Greenland and Denmark pushed back and praised their free public health systems.
What they're saying:
"It’s a no thank you from here," Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen wrote on Facebook.
"We have a public health care system where treatment is free for citizens. That is a deliberate choice — and a fundamental part of our society," said Nielsen. "That is not how it works in the USA, where it costs money to see a doctor."
He added, in a note of exasperation, that Greenland is always open to dialogue and cooperation. "But please talk to us instead of just making more or less random statements on social media," he said.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen defended Denmark’s health care system on Sunday, writing on Facebook that she was "happy to live in a country where there is free and equal access to health for all. Where it’s not insurances and wealth that determine whether you get proper treatment."
"You have the same approach in Greenland," she said, before adding: "Happy Sunday to you all" in front of a blushing, smiling emoji.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, speaking to public broadcaster DR, said Danish authorities had not been informed that the U.S. ship was on its way.
Dig deeper:
The Pentagon referred questions about the status of the U.S. Navy’s two hospital ships, the USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort, to the White House. The White House did not immediately respond to repeated requests for more information.
Both ships are currently at a shipyard in Mobile, Ala., according to social media posts from the shipyard, which also posted photos of them next to each other.
Why does Trump want Greenland?
This browser does not support the Video element.
Trump says he won't use force to acquire Greenland
While speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday, President Trump said he won’t use force to acquire Greenland.
Meanwhile:
Trump has amped up talk in recent months of a possible U.S. takeover of the country.
Big picture view:
Greenland's strategic location above the Arctic Circle makes it a focal point in global security and trade debates.
Dig deeper:
The island is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, a longtime U.S. ally and a founding member of NATO. It is also home to a large U.S. military base.
The land is rich in valuable rare earth minerals, such as uranium, as well as billions of untapped barrels of oil and a vast supply of natural gas.
And, on a global scale, Greenland will be an increasing focal point through the 21st century, experts say, because of the effect its melting ice will have on sea levels.
Greenland population
By the numbers:
The island, 80% of which lies above the Arctic Circle, is home to about 56,000 mostly Inuit people.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from public social media posts made by Trump, Nielsen and Frederiksen. Background information was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Detroit.