A disappointed President Trump has canceled a planned state visit to Denmark after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen adamantly refused to sell Greenland to him. Trump and his wife Melania were scheduled to arrive in Denmark on September 2 at the invitation of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II. But now Trump says he’s not going.
Trump had earlier expressed an interest in buying the mineral-rich, ice-bound island of Greenland, which is controlled by Denmark. But Frederiksen scoffed at the “absurd” idea, saying Greenland was not for sale.
President Trump, still a shrewd businessman, tweeted his canceled plans on Tuesday:
“Denmark is a very special country with incredible people, but based on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s comments, that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time.”
In a sarcastic tone the U.S. President thanked the Prime Minister of Denmark for saving U.S. taxpayers the expense of flying him and his massive entourage to Denmark.
“The Prime Minister was able to save a great deal of expense and effort for both the United States and Denmark by being so direct. I thank her for that and look forward to rescheduling sometime in the future!”
Despite Trump saying his trip was “postponed,” the Associated Press later reported the trip was canceled altogether.
The idea of the U.S. purchasing Greenland from Denmark is not unprecedented. The U.S. purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917.
Denmark sent emergency aid to the U.S. Virgin Islands after widespread devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
