TRUMP appoints Louisiana governor as special envoy to Greenland

Tuesday, December 23, 2025 -In a move that has reignited global attention on Arctic geopolitics, President Donald Trump has named Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as the United States’ special envoy to Greenland. 

Trump framed the appointment as a strategic step to advance U.S. national security interests in the Arctic, underscoring Greenland’s geographic importance and vast natural resources amid intensifying global competition for influence.

Landry, who took office as Louisiana governor in January 2024, called the role an “honor” and says it will not affect his duties in Baton Rouge, even as he embraces Trump’s controversial agenda regarding the island.

The decision comes as Trump and Landry renew talks of bringing Greenland — a semi‑autonomous territory of Denmark — closer under U.S. influence, a stance that has alarmed Copenhagen and Nuuk. 

Danish officials have publicly rejected any notion that Greenland is for sale or could be ceded to the United States, and Denmark’s foreign minister announced plans to summon the U.S. ambassador in protest. Leaders in Greenland have similarly stressed that the island’s future must be decided by Greenlanders themselves, not by external powers.

Critics say the envoy appointment risks damaging long‑standing relations with a key NATO ally and could heighten diplomatic tensions at a time when Arctic cooperation is crucial. 

Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland reflects broader strategic competition in the Arctic, where climate change and resource access are reshaping global priorities. With Denmark pushing back forcefully and Greenland asserting its autonomy, the U.S. move has turned what might have been a symbolic appointment into a flashpoint with real international stakes.