The new U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Ken Howery, has been confronted about President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Greenland.
Danish media asked Howery, who was sworn in as ambassador last week, what his message was about Greenland outside Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.
But before he could answer, he was interrupted by one of his aides who said they did not have time to answer the question.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in the Kingdom of Denmark, via email, for comment.
Why It Matters
Howery’s appointment comes amid tensions between Washington, Copenhagen and Nuuk over Trump’s ambitions to acquire Greenland.
This episode marks a significant point in U.S.–Danish relations, touching on issues of Arctic security, resource competition, and international law, as well as raising questions about diplomatic conduct and the limits of American influence in the region.
Greenland’s strategic importance has made it a flashpoint in U.S. security policy, rekindling debates over sovereignty, self-determination and NATO cohesion.
What To Know
Howery, a PayPal co-founder and close associate of Elon Musk, officially began his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Denmark by presenting his credentials to King Frederik at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.
Speaking outside the palace, Howery said his priorities are “strengthening our defense and security cooperation, trade and investment ties, and working together with the Kingdom [of Denmark] to address our shared concerns about security in the Arctic, especially in Greenland.”
A Danish journalist said: “And now that you mention Greenland, do you have a message for both the king and the Danish people in Greenland?”
At that point, a woman interjected to say: “Hey guys, he doesn’t have times for questions right now, we’ve got a really tight schedule and he’s already running late.”
“Can you just finish what you just said?” the journalist asked.
“We’ll have time to comment in the future,” Howery said.
In a separate incident, a different journalist asked Howery to reassure people that the U.S. will not take Greenland by force. Howery answered: “I would refer you back to the President’s statement—that he reiterated the importance of—the future of their country, of Greenland is for them to decide and I certainly look forward to working with our counterparts in the government on our shared concerns on Arctic security.”
What People Are Saying
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, when pressed on American plans for Greenland during a congressional hearing in June, said: “Our job, at the DOD, is to have plans. Our job at the Defense Department is to have plans for any particular contingency. Any contingency, we’ve got. We’ve got a building full of planners, and we’re prepared to give recommendations whenever needed.”
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in Copenhagen in May, per the BBC: “We will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by anyone, and that’s the message I think is most important to understand.”
President Donald Trump said in December, when he nominated Howery as ambassador: “For purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity. Ken will do a wonderful job in representing the interests of the United States.”
What Happens Next
Tensions surrounding U.S. intentions toward Greenland are expected to persist. The new U.S. ambassador’s effectiveness may hinge on his ability to reassure partners while navigating the administration’s uncompromising rhetoric and ambitions for the Arctic territory.