US President Donald Trump has reignited controversy surrounding Greenland after announcing that the United States would send a naval hospital ship to the Arctic territory, claiming residents there were “not being taken care of.” The statement drew swift criticism from Danish officials and widespread backlash on social media, where users questioned the accuracy of his remarks and compared Greenland’s healthcare system with that of the United States.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US would deploy a hospital ship in coordination with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, sharing an illustration of the US Navy hospital vessel USNS Mercy. The United States operates two such ships — USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort — typically used for military medical support and humanitarian missions. However, US authorities have not officially confirmed any operational plan to send either vessel to Greenland.
Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, provides publicly funded healthcare to its population of roughly 56,000 people. Due to the island’s vast geography and scattered settlements, patients often travel by boat, aircraft, or helicopter for treatment. Complex medical cases are handled at the main hospital in Nuuk or transferred to Denmark, where specialised care is provided under the same public healthcare framework.
Danish officials rejected Trump’s assertion that Greenland lacks adequate medical services. Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said residents already receive necessary healthcare locally or in Denmark when specialised treatment is required, adding that there was no need for an external medical intervention.
The announcement triggered strong reactions online, with critics highlighting that Greenland operates a universal healthcare system, unlike the US, where access to healthcare often depends on insurance coverage. Social media users argued that the proposal appeared misplaced and questioned why similar resources were not being directed toward domestic healthcare challenges. Others characterised the announcement as political messaging rather than a practical humanitarian initiative, while some posts circulated satirical or edited images mocking the proposal.
Fact-checkers also noted that both US Navy hospital ships are currently undergoing maintenance at an Alabama shipyard, suggesting no deployment was imminent.
Trump’s comments come amid his longstanding interest in expanding US influence over Greenland, a strategically significant Arctic territory rich in mineral resources and located along emerging shipping routes and defence corridors. During his presidency, he repeatedly argued that closer US involvement in Greenland was vital for national security, though earlier proposals regarding acquisition of the island had drawn diplomatic pushback from Denmark and Greenlandic authorities.
