Second Lady Usha Vance Steps Into a Minefield of Diplomatic Territory as She Visits Greenland

Second Lady Usha Vance, it appears, is not going to be content starring adoringly at her husband as he basks in public life, or, as Hillary Clinton famously said, she is not going to stay home, bake cookies and have teas. More qualified and professionally accomplished than her husband, Usha Vance is stepping up her role as Second Lady without drawing too much attention but not shying away from it either.

But it remains to be seen how she will navigate her role under the rubric of the Trump administration which at its best is fraught. Usha Vance is set to visit Greenland Thursday alongside her young son as part of a U.S. delegation, a trip that has ignited fresh diplomatic tensions amid President Donald Trump’s repeated statements about acquiring the Danish territory, according to officials from both countries.

The White House announced Sunday that Usha Vance will “visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland’s national dogsled race,” portraying the visit as a cultural exchange. The delegation is scheduled to return Saturday.

“I’m coming to celebrate the long history of mutual respect and cooperation between our nations and to express hope that our relationship will only grow stronger in the coming years,” Vance said in an Instagram video Sunday, making no mention of the administration’s territorial ambitions.

However, Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute B. Egede expressed outrage over what he called a “highly aggressive” delegation, according to The New York Times. “We are now at a point where it can no longer be described as an innocent visit from a politician’s spouse,” Egede told a Greenlandic newspaper, adding that “the international community must now react.”

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized Sunday that neither Denmark nor Greenland had requested these visits.

Multiple sources confirmed to The New York Times that National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will also travel to Greenland this week, with Waltz expected to tour a U.S. military base on the island.

“What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland?” Egede questioned. “The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us.”

The timing of the visit has further inflamed tensions, coming just after Greenland’s parliamentary elections. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of Greenland’s most popular political party, told The New York Times that the Americans’ awareness of ongoing government formation negotiations “once again shows a lack of respect for the Greenlandic people.”

President Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to acquire Greenland, which has a population of approximately 57,000 and possesses valuable rare earth minerals critical for advanced technology manufacturing.

“We need Greenland for national security and even international security,” Trump said during a recent address to Congress. “And I think we’re going to get it one way or the other.” When later asked about “annexing” Greenland during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump responded: “I think it will happen.”

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized Sunday that neither Denmark nor Greenland had requested these visits. “The visit from the United States cannot be seen in isolation from the public statements that have been made,” Frederiksen said. “This is something we take seriously.”

A recent poll found that a vast majority of Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the United States, according to The New York Times.

Vice President JD Vance has previously praised Greenland’s “incredible natural resources,” aligning with the administration’s interest in the territory’s mining potential for electric vehicles, smartphones, and other technology components.

This marks Usha Vance’s third international trip as Second Lady, following visits to Paris in February and India earlier in March, as well as a trip to Italy for the Special Olympics World Winter Games.