Greenland Flag Flap: Denmark Slams Trump Aide’s Wife Over ‘US Takeover’ Post

Washington-Copenhagen Tensions Spike After Instagram Stunt

It took one cropped photograph, a fluttering Stars-and-Stripes, and a caption that read "Coming soon" to detonate a fresh diplomatic row between the United States and Denmark.

The image—an AI-generated mock-up of Greenland’s coastline draped in an American flag—was posted Sunday night by Darla Hendricks, wife of incoming White House Arctic adviser Ron Hendricks. Within minutes, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen answered on X: "Greenland is not for sale. Respect our sovereignty."

From Social Media to State Papers

By Monday morning, Copenhagen had summoned the U.S. chargé d’affaires for an "urgent clarification," while Greenland’s premier, Múte Egede, told local broadcaster KNR that "jokes about territorial acquisition stopped being funny in 2019."

"Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, full stop. We expect our partners to treat us as equals, not bargaining chips." — Múte Egede, Greenland Premier

Sources inside the Danish embassy say officials were given no advance warning; Hendricks’ post was neither flagged nor cleared by State Department channels. The incident revives memories of Donald Trump’s 2019 proposal to "buy" the autonomous territory—an overture Copenhagen branded "absurd."

Why Greenland Matters

The island commands the shortest flight path between North America and Europe, holds untapped rare-earth deposits, and hosts America’s northernmost military installation, Thule Air Base. As Arctic ice retreats, both Washington and Beijing have ramped up strategic interest, pumping investment into ports, satellites and cold-weather gear.

• Greenland is 80% ice-covered but the size of Saudi Arabia.
• Denmark retains control of foreign policy and defense.
• Greenland’s parliament is expected to vote on a new independence referendum by 2025.

White House Damage Control

Speaking off the record, a senior transition official called the post "ill-advised" and said Ron Hendricks, a retired Navy captain, would recuse himself from Greenland-related briefings "until tensions cool." Incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a terse statement: "President-elect Trump looks forward to strengthening cooperation with Denmark and the people of Greenland."

Danish diplomats, however, want firmer assurances. Rasmussen told reporters the U.S. must "distance itself publicly" from any suggestion of forced acquisition. Failure to do so, he warned, could jeopardize joint Arctic research funding and a pending air-defense upgrade at Thule.

Inside the Hendricks Household

Darla Hendricks, a lifestyle influencer with 1.7 million followers, has previously posted pro-Trump memes and merchandise links. The Greenland image, created using Midjourney, was up for six hours, amassed 430,000 likes, and was reposted by several MAGA influencers before she deleted it without comment. Screenshots continue to circulate, stoking Danish media outrage.

Market Ripples

Shares in Greenland-focused mining firms—often swayed by geopolitical headlines—swung wildly. Australian-backed Tanbreez Mining closed up 12% on the Copenhagen exchange, while China-linked Shenghe Resources dipped 4% as traders bet on renewed scrutiny of foreign ownership.

What Happens Next

Copenhagen is pushing for a trilateral meeting in Nuuk before Trump’s inauguration. Key topics:

• Formal U.S. recognition of Greenland’s right to self-determination.
• Expansion of joint climate-monitoring programs.
• Danish request for written guarantees against coercive purchase rhetoric.

Back in Washington, Senate Foreign Relations staffers say they expect the episode to surface during Secretary-of-State nominee confirmation hearings, as lawmakers weigh limits on executive Arctic policy.

Bottom Line

One Instagram frame has rekindled a sovereignty saga that neither Washington nor Copenhagen wanted reopened. Whether it proves a blip or a rupture depends on the apology—or lack thereof—delivered in the days ahead.