Vice President J.D. Vance and the wider Trump administration are facing criticism now that Colonel Susan Meyers was removed from her post as commander at Greenland's Pituffik Space Base after breaking with Vance in an email she wrote following his controversial visit to the island territory.
Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, alongside the Faroe Islands, the only other autonomous territory within the Kingdom. Citizens of both Greenland and the Faroe Islands are full citizens of Denmark. As one of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union, Greenland’s citizens are also recognized as EU citizens.
The world is now nervously watching President Donald Trump since he voiced his desire for territorial expansion, calling "the ownership and control of Greenland" an "absolute necessity."
During a visit to the military base, Vance told locals they would be better off as part of the United States rather than Denmark. He repeatedly accused Denmark of failing Greenland’s people but provided no specific examples, aside from vague references to “aggressive incursions” by Russia and China.
Vance stressed that that "you'd [Greenlanders] be a lot better...coming under the United States' security umbrella than you have been under the Denmark security umbrella." Without citing concrete evidence, he accused Denmark of having "underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people."
Following Vance’s visit, Meyers addressed the base in a March 31 message to all personnel at Pituffik. Her note appeared to be an effort to promote unity among the airmen, Guardians, and international partners stationed there, including Canadians, Danes, and Greenlanders. She wrote that she “spent the weekend thinking about Friday’s visit—the actions taken, the words spoken, and how it must have affected each of you.”
She added:
"I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base."
“I commit that, for as long as I am lucky enough to lead this base, all of our flags will fly proudly―together."
In response to the news, Taylor Van Kirk, Vance's press secretary, said in an emailed statement to Military.com that Vance was "grateful to visit Pituffik Space Base and for the opportunity to meet with our brave servicemen and women" and added:
"President Trump has made his vision for an enhanced security footprint in the Arctic abundantly clear, and the vice president is committed to implementing the president's agenda. This includes strengthening the partnership and cooperation between the United States and Greenland, which is critical for both American national security and the safety of our partners worldwide.”
Defense Department Chief of Staff Joe Kasper also issued the following statement justifying Meyers' firing:
"Civilian control of the military is a bedrock principle of our armed forces. Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump's agenda will not be tolerated at the Defense Department."
The news that Meyers had been terminated for not marching in lockstep behind the administration angered many who've said the decision to remove her is not dissimilar to what happens under authoritarian regimes.
Despite Vance’s remarks, polls indicate that most Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the U.S. The issue has fueled some of the island's largest protests, with demonstrators carrying "Yankees, Go Home" signs and wearing "Make America Go Away" caps. Both Greenland and Denmark have made it clear that Greenland is not for sale.
Frustrated by Trump’s stance on Greenland and his sweeping trade tariffs, Danish consumers are boycotting American products in a wave of national protest.
Salling Group—the parent company of supermarket chains Føtex, Bilka, and Netto—has made it easier for shoppers to steer clear of U.S. products by marking all European-owned brands with an asterisk on price tags. The change, introduced last month, applies across its 1,700+ stores in Denmark, Germany, and Poland.
According to a spokesperson, the move isn’t intended as a boycott of American goods, but rather a response to growing customer demand for “clearer information about European ownership.”
The movement has gained traction across Europe, with the hashtag #BoycottUSA trending on social media and Facebook groups helping shoppers find locally-made alternatives. A similar trend has taken hold in Canada, where some cafés have rebranded Americanos as “Canadianos.”
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social