US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that a “huge hospital ship” was heading to Greenland, mocking the country’s health care system.
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Published February 22, 2026
Greenland has said it “does not appreciate” plans to send a hospital ship to the Arctic island after US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to seize the autonomous region of Denmark on grounds of “national security”.
Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post Sunday that President Trump’s proposal to send a U.S. medical ship was “noted”.
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“However, we have a public healthcare system where treatment for our citizens is free. This is a deliberate choice,” Nielsen said, reiterating that Greenland remains open to dialogue and cooperation.
“But instead of ranting more or less randomly on social media, please talk to us,” he added.
The historically strong post-World War II bilateral relationship between North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies Denmark and the United States has come under severe strain in recent months after President Trump accelerated talk of a possible U.S. occupation of the mineral-rich, strategically located Arctic island.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told Danish broadcaster DR that Greenland residents “are receiving the necessary medical care.”
“They will receive treatment in Greenland or, if they require specialized treatment, in Denmark,” he said. “There is no need for a special medical initiative in Greenland.”
On Saturday, President Trump posted on his Truth Social account an AI-generated image of the US Navy ship USNS Mercy, saying it was on its way to Greenland to treat medically neglected people.
“We are sending a great hospital ship to Greenland to take care of the many sick people who cannot be treated there. On their way now!!!” Trump wrote.
President Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in U.S. control of Greenland as a means of ensuring U.S. national security. However, Greenland and Europe rejected the US desire to occupy the Arctic island and supported Greenland’s sovereignty.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: “I am happy to live in a country where access to healthcare is free and equal for everyone.”
Greenland is a place where “access to dignified care is not determined by insurance or wealth,” she added, in an apparent critique of the less-than-universal U.S. health care system.
The threat of seizing Greenland receded after President Trump signed a “framework” agreement with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in January to ensure greater US influence.
