Trump’s random plan for a hospital ship traced to bricklayer in Greenland | EUROtoday

When President Donald Trump introduced with an AI-generated picture that he deliberate to ship a hospital ship to Greenland, it precipitated widespread confusion.

While an American submariner needed to be rescued by the Danish navy after falling sick, there was no indication that any widespread diseases have been current in Greenland.

New experiences counsel that Trump was impressed to ship a hospital ship after a remark from a MAGA-loving Greenlandic bricklayer.

Jørgen Boassen, 52, is outwardly one in every of a small variety of avid Trump supporters on the island, going as far as to assist arrange Donald Trump Jr.’s go to to Greenland final 12 months. He says he was the one who impressed Governor Jeff Landry — Trump’s Greenland envoy — to pitch the hospital ship thought, in accordance with the Wall Street Journal.

He advised the paper that he had been staying with Landry on the governor’s mansion in Louisiana for Mardi Gras when Landry requested what the U.S. might do for Greenland.

“I told him our healthcare system is deteriorating, and that people are sick. Some people are diagnosed too late,” Boassen stated.

He famous that he did not particularly counsel a hospital ship, however added that “any help is appreciated.”

Landry advised the paper that he mentioned the thought with Trump throughout a White House dinner on Saturday, which prompted the president to ask whether or not the island actually wanted a hospital ship.

The governor stated Greenlanders “absolutely need it,” which was all it took for Trump to comply with the thought.

“Working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we are going to send a great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there. It’s on the way!!!” Trump stated in a Truth Social submit.

The Independent has requested the White House for remark.

After Trump’s submit — that includes an AI-generated illustration of a ship with an American flag — it was unclear if an actual ship would materialize. Pentagon officers confirmed to the WSJ that no orders have been given to deploy both of the Navy’s hospital ships. Both have been present process upkeep in Mobile, Alabama.

The situation of healthcare seems to have been a really private one for Boassen. His mom died a number of years in the past from sepsis after she had been misdiagnosed at a rural clinic. She was reportedly handled with painkillers.

Despite no matter issues Greenland’s system could have, lots of the island’s residents stated they most popular their system — free, common healthcare — to the non-public mannequin within the U.S, in accordance with a Copenhagen Post ballot of Greenlanders.

Landry claims in any other case, citing Greenlanders he has reportedly spoken with.

“That’s not what I’m hearing from Greenlanders. They think that universal healthcare sucks over there,” he told the WSJ.

In any case, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen rejected the unsolicited offer of aid from Trump.

“President Trump’s idea of sending an American hospital ship here to Greenland has been noted. But we have a public healthcare system where treatment is free for citizens. It is a deliberate choice,” the prime minister said in a Facebook post.

He suggested that the Trump administration “talk to us instead of just making more or less random outbursts on social media.”

Trump’s post was another example of his fixation on Greenland. The president has previously insisted that the U.S. taking control of Greenland is paramount to America’s national security. He has also insisted that Denmark and the Greenlanders themselves will be taken over by China if they are not brought under U.S. control.

Greenlanders at large and Danish officials have expressed alarm and displeasure at the president’s repeated insinuations that he would do anything it takes to take over Greenland, including using military force.

Trump has since softened his stance on using military force and tariffs to take control of the island. During the Davos World Economic Forum in January, Trump said the U.S. had reached a deal with Greenland, and no further action would be taken to try to wrest control of the island from Denmark.

“It’s a deal that everybody’s very happy with,” Trump told reporters. “It’s a long-term deal. It’s the ultimate long-term deal. It puts everybody in a really good position, especially as it pertains to security and to minerals.”

He added that the settlement is a “deal that’s forever.”

Shortly after the announcement, Greenland’s prime minister stated he was not clear on a lot of what Trump was referring to however stated he was open to discussions, as long as they didn’t contain violating the island’s sovereignty.

“I don’t know what there is in the agreement, or the deal, about my country,” he advised reporters in January. “We are ready to discuss a lot of things and we are ready to negotiate a better partnership and so on. But sovereignty is a red line.”