The real reason Trump’s Vance visit to Greenland was cancelled: “they’ve been going door-to-door”

The visit was meant to be a show of soft power from the United States, on the back of some rather harsher words from both President Donald Trump and his number two (officially, at least) JD Vance.

Usha Vance, wife of the U.S. Vice President, traveled to Greenland for a friendly public appearance during a celebrated dog-sled race. Instead, it became a diplomatic embarrassment, and not for the first time a Trump-aligned U.S. official has had plans in Greenland go sideways. Here’s JD talking about joining his wife.

The official reason for cancelling the full visit has not been made public. But according to local reports out of Nuuk, the real story is more humiliating than the administration might have expected.

What happened with Vance in Greenland?

TV 2 Denmark’s correspondent in Greenland, Jesper Steinmetz, reported that U.S. representatives had spent several days ahead of the visit going door-to-door in Nuuk – literally – asking residents if they’d be willing to host or welcome the vice president’s wife. Not one person said yes.

It seems that the refusal wasn’t just symbolic – it was decisive. Plans changed, and Usha Vance’s public appearance, with her husband involved too, was pulled from the schedule.

A social media post from user Viking Fella summed up the episode in more blunt terms: “They didn’t find a single person who would let her in. This is why the trip was really cancelled!”

What’s behind the Greenland cold shoulder?

The cold reception wasn’t random. Public opinion in Greenland has hardened significantly against the U.S. government in recent years, especially after Trump floated the idea of buying the island in 2019, referring to it as a “large real estate deal,” and then more aggressively since he took office a second time. The idea has sparked widespread outrage.

Recent polling shows the majority of Greenlanders strongly oppose any move to become part of the United States. And in recent weeks, anti-American demonstrations in Nuuk and other towns have drawn some of the largest crowds in the island’s modern history.

The visit from Usha Vance arguably came at the worst possible moment. Danish ministers had already condemned Trump’s renewed claims last week that “we need Greenland and the world needs us to have Greenland.” The tone was so aggressive that Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the U.S. rhetoric had “escalated,” calling the statements “far-fetched” and inappropriate for an ally.

Greenland, while geographically massive, is home to just 57,000 people. But its geopolitical weight has grown due to its Arctic location and natural resources. The U.S. already operates a key military base at Pituffik in the north, which was the easier focus of the visit. But that’s a military installation – not the heart of public life in Nuuk, where the local response has been clear: they don’t want America knocking, literally or otherwise.

While international tensions continue to grow fueled by erratic comments and actions from the White House, let’s hope we don’t hear the word “Nuuk” in any other context.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.