Media: Boassen prepares for Landry visit

Next week, the US special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, who is also the governor of Louisiana, will participate in Future Greenland in Nuuk.

In this connection, Jørgen Boassen has returned to Greenland, he tells DR.

Jørgen Boassen is known for his support of the US and President Donald Trump.

- I got a call from Jeff's friends, and Jeff wanted me to go to Greenland because he needs help talking to the Greenlanders about what they think about the situation, Jørgen Boassen tells DR when they meet him at Nuuk airport.

He will need a few days to "prepare" and arrange meetings with Greenlanders, the media writes.

DR also writes that Jeff Landry and his people have not immediately confirmed that Jørgen Boassen has been asked to make preparations ahead of the visit.

The Chairman of the Government of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D), said during the international conference Democracy Summit in Copenhagen on Tuesday that he does not know whether he will meet with Jeff Landry in connection with the conference.

- I do not know yet. If he wants to meet, I must have a clear agenda for what he wants. We know this game in Greenland. We have been under this pressure for 15-16 months, said Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

In January, we wrote that the tour operator from Qasigiannguit and newly elected member of Inatsisartut, Kristian Jeremiassen, was invited by Jeff Landry.

The plan was for Landry and Jeremiassen to meet during a cowboy festival in New Orleans, Louisiana, this month. The visit was intended as a cultural and educational exchange.

But the trip has now been canceled.

– I won’t say anything further, but it’s canceled, Kristian Jeremiassen told Sermitsiaq on Thursday.

Is it because you’ve rejoined Inatsisartut?

– I won’t comment on that.

Kristian Jeremiassen is an alternate for Inuit Ataqatigiit in Inatsisartut. After two party members were appointed to the naalakkersuisut, he became a member of Inatsisartut on April 14.

Jeff Landry is in Nuuk during Inatsisartut's spring meeting. Do you plan to meet him?

– No, I don't mix our tourism company, Experience Qasigiannguit, and my duties as a member of Inatsisartut. I keep that separate. I don't plan to meet with him, and I won't, says Kristian Jeremiassen.

Following the news that Donald Trump's special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, has registered for the Future Greenland conference on 19-20 May, the US ambassador to Denmark, Ken Howery, is also on the list of participants.

The last time Ken Howery paid an official visit to Greenland was in December, when he stated during a doorstep meeting with then-Nakkersuisut Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt that the US respected the right of the Greenlandic people to determine their own future.

14 days later, Donald Trump appointed Jeff Landry as his special envoy to Greenland, prompting Vivian Motzfeldt to state that it was a breach of the fragile trust between the two countries:

– Naalakkersuisut has not been informed that the US would appoint a special envoy to Greenland. We recently met with the US ambassador to the Kingdom, Kenneth Howery. Ambassador Howery did not inform about these plans. It is not an expression of trust, said Vivian Motzfeldt.

Odense Mayor Peter Rahbæk Juel invites to coffee meeting at Odense City Hall on April 19.

According to the mayor, the coffee meeting is held to mark the strong bond between Odense and Greenland:

- A bond that we must cherish at a time when our Greenlandic friends are under great and unfair pressure from outside. As recently as yesterday, Trump called Greenland “a poorly managed piece of ice,” the mayor writes on his Facebook page.

He calls Trump's comment disrespectful and believes that the case emphasizes that there is still a great need to stand close together - shoulder to shoulder:

- We have a common task here to both preserve - but also strengthen - the connection between our people, with whom we share so much. And we here in Odense would like to make an extra effort to do so, says the mayor.

The invitation can be found on the mayor's Facebook page.

Acting Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen emphasizes in a statement to TV2 that US President Donald Trump has not given up his vision for Greenland.

On Thursday night, Trump again spoke out about Greenland, under heavy criticism of NATO, calling Greenland “a piece of ice that is poorly governed”.

Rasmussen emphasizes that it is “not a nice comment” for Denmark.

- But I have no interest in escalating the situation by expressing my honest opinion, he tells TV 2.

The Chairman of the Greenland Parliament has stated that diplomatic negotiations between Greenland, Denmark and the USA are still ongoing.

Member of Parliament Naaja H. Nathanielsen (IA) is now also reacting to last night's statement from Donald Trump:

- Words can harm, hurt and arouse anger. We feel this when our country is referred to as a "poorly governed piece of ice" by the American president, writes Naaja H. Nathanielsen on Facebook.

She says that the words from the American president are designed to create a reaction in politicians and the media. She will therefore reiterate that Greenland is a well-functioning democracy, a legal society that recognizes international law and is inhabited by a people with its own culture.

- The president's statement is linked to his frustration with the NATO alliance. But it will not be a post on Truth Social that will be the end of NATO. Nor will it be our refusal to become American, Naaja H. Nathanielsen assesses.

However, she says that the NATO alliance is under pressure and must be renewed. However, she emphasizes that Greenland will not be cowed:

- We will not be cowed and will not accept being talked down to. We have shown a willingness to cooperate and seriousness, and I send good vibrations to Naalakkersuisut, which again today must deal with a post on social media in addition to the great work that goes on every day to develop the country, writes Naaja H. Nathanielsen.

Former member of parliament Aaja Chemnitz (IA) reacts on Facebook to Donald Trump's new statements about Greenland:

- It is, however, incredible what tyranny we must not put up with from Trump, writes Aaja Chemnitz and continues:

- Insisting on calling our homeland a piece of ice that is poorly managed shows once again the lack of respect for our country.

In recent days, Donald Trump has linked his desire for Greenland with a criticism of NATO. He apparently believes that NATO should have helped him get Greenland.

Aaja Chemnitz sees it as Trump wanting to use Greenland as an excuse to withdraw the US from NATO, and she makes a call to the alliance:

- Now NATO must show whether there is unity and some respect left - for itself and for our country, writes Aaja Chemnitz.

The newly elected member of parliament, Naaja H. Nathanielsen, is now responding to Donald Trump's repeated desire to take over Greenland.

In a short update on Facebook, Naaja H. Nathanielsen states that Greenland has the right to self-determination:

- Unfortunately, we live in a time where we must again and again state that we are a people, a culture and a country with the right to self-determination. We control the direction of the sled. Strong forces are copying a rhetoric that belongs to the past these years.

- You can see it seeping into society, so that it no longer only belongs to the fringes. It must be spoken against and not silenced. Greenland is a democracy. We recognize international law. And it is not up to other countries to define our present or future. Threatening with superior force is not winning. It is a declaration of bankruptcy, says Naaja H. Nathanielsen.

The Danish health system suits Denmark, but it does not suit Greenland.

This is what Jeff Landry, the US special envoy to Greenland, writes on the social media X.

Despite the fact that the health system in Greenland functions in the same way as in Denmark, he does not believe that it has the same outcome.

- Deploying a US military hospital ship to Greenland would significantly expand access to advanced diagnostics, surgical services and preventive care, writes Jeff Landry.

According to him, President Donald Trump is committed to strengthening health outcomes across the country.

The well-known Trump supporter Jørgen Boassen has visited the United States earlier this month with the country's special envoy to Greenland and governor of Louisiana Jeff Landry.

Boassen tells TV2 that he has spoken to Jeff Landry about the Greenlandic health care system:

- Our health care system is faltering, and getting sick in Greenland is a death sentence, Jørgen Boassen tells TV2.

Boassen believes that Greenland should accept any help for the healthcare system from the United States.

Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he, in collaboration with Jeff Landry, was sending “a fantastic hospital ship” to Greenland, which would treat the sick who are not being cared for.

Trump's announcement came immediately after he had been to dinner with Jeff Landry in Washington.

Trump's hospital ship has immediately received a cool reception from the chairman of the Greenlandic government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D), who has urged the president and the United States to address the issue through proper channels rather than “more or less random outbursts on social media.”

With his announcement to send a “fantastic hospital ship” to Greenland, the US president is trying to divert attention from the fact that an American submarine had to receive help from Denmark and Greenland this weekend.

This is what former chief analyst in the Danish Armed Forces Intelligence Service Jacob Kaarsbo believes to TV2, where he calls Trump’s announcement a media stunt.

According to Jacob Kaarsbo, the episode about a crew member on an American submarine in Nuuk needing help is unpleasant for Trump:

- It is an uncomfortable situation for Trump, which shows that he needs us and his allies, and it is a picture that the Americans cannot manage on their own in Greenland, says Jacob Kaarsbo to TV2.

It was Saturday that the Arctic Command evacuated a crew member from the American submarine, which was off Nuuk. According to the Arctic Command, the crew member needed urgent medical treatment.

As far as is known, the US special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, has not yet visited Greenland.

Landry has, however, had a visit from Greenland from, among others, the well-known Trump supporter Jørgen Boassen. This is shown by a post on X from February 15.

In the post, Landry writes:

- Great to host some of the wonderful Greenlandic people for the Endymion ballet! We'll show them our amazing culture of hospitality!

He has attached a picture of himself standing with Jørgen Boassen holding Erfalasorput.

Landry is currently on the front lines defending a proposal from Donald Trump to send a "fantastic hospital ship" to Greenland. Landry claims to have spoken to many Greenlanders who have pointed out that the healthcare system is a major problem.

The US has apparently not sent any official request to Greenland offering help. The chairman of Naalakkersusiut, Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D), has made it clear that Greenland has its own healthcare system with free treatment for its citizens.

Member of Parliament Aaja Chemnitz is now reacting to President Donald Trump's announcement that the US will send a hospital ship to Greenland.

- Another day. Another crazy news. Trump will send an unmaintained hospital ship to Greenland. It seems quite desperate and does not contribute to the permanent and sustained boost to the healthcare system that we need, she writes and continues:

- I even met Tom Dans, Trump's man in the Arctic, and he talked about us having tuberculosis problems in Greenland, so I can see where their thinking comes from and the intention may in principle be good, but the solution is off-target.

Aaja Chemnitz acknowledges that there are challenges within the healthcare sector in Greenland but points out that the challenges are being addressed. For example, 35 million DKK more has been allocated annually since the last general election, and this year an extra 185 million DKK has been allocated for treatment for Greenlanders who need treatment in Denmark.

- Our healthcare system is deeply challenged. Even more than what you see in Denmark. And this can best be solved with Denmark, as one of the richest and most well-educated countries in, for example, the healthcare sector. Not the USA, which has its own problems with healthcare.

- This requires closer and more committed efforts from Denmark in the health sector in Greenland, writes Aaja Chemnitz.

During the coffee break in Katuaq, Chairman of the Greenland Government Jens-Frederik Nielsen gives a short interview to the press present,

He says, among other things, that he is very happy about the King's visit:

- He is popular and loved by the citizens in this country, and he is a very unifying figure. This is proven every time he is here.

- I am glad that he wanted to come, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

He is also asked about the visit's signal to the USA and Donald Trump:

- We have been in this situation for a long time. I think the most important thing is that citizens of Greenland can feel the solidarity with the royal family, which proves to be very strong every year.

There is applause and cheers when King Frederik arrives at the coffee table in a packed Katuaq on Wednesday afternoon.

During the coffee table, the citizens present have the opportunity to greet the king, and this has drawn many people from their homes and to the coffee table in the cultural center.

Two of the guests, Sussi Høegh from Ilulissat and Elisabeth Thorin from Qasigiannguit, are already in Katuaq. They hope to see the king up close.

- It is important for us to see the king in our town. That is why we are here as guests in the coffee shop, says Sussi Høegh and continues:

- I am not very good at Danish. But I would tell him that one of our classmates in the pedagogical school, Frederik, would very much like to greet him, says Sussi Høegh.

Sits opposite Elisabeth Thorin:

- I wanted to say to him in Greenlandic, "tikilluarit", (welcome, ed.). That's it, says Elisabeth Thorin.

Before 3:45 p.m. Katuaq had to lock the doors because there were no more seats inside Katuaq.

The final preparations for the coffee party in Katuaq are almost complete.

Katuaq's director Ivaaq Kriegel informs Sermitsiaq that the cultural center expects 500 guests this afternoon:

- We have baked cakes for around 500 guests. And we expect the number of guests to be around 500. When the guests start arriving, we will get busy brewing fresh coffee, says Ivaaq Kriegel.

The director states that Katuaq's doors will open to guests as early as 3:00 p.m. King Frederik is expected to arrive at 3:45 p.m.:

- We know that the king would very much like to greet guests who come in here, says Ivaaq Kriegel.

A little after 3 p.m., a number of citizens have already arrived in Katuaq to be ready for the coffee break, which begins at 3:45 p.m.

The next item on the program is a visit to the Defense Ship Vædderen in the harbor of Nuuk.

Here, students from Arctic Basic Education greet the King, as well as showing off equipment to King Frederik and Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

Due to the coffee party in connection with the King's visit to Nuuk, the police will be heavily present around Katuaq.

This is what the Greenland Police writes on their Facebook page.

- In addition, increased traffic is expected around Katuaq between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM in connection with the planned coffee party, it says.

Citizens are encouraged to show consideration for each other in traffic in the area.

Helga Rina Kristoffersen is 18 years old and is in 1st year at GUX.

She is one of those who sang for King Frederik during his visit to her educational institution on Wednesday:

- I think it's nice that he comes to visit us. But I won't be accompanying him on his further visits as I'm going to study myself, she tells Sermitsiaq.