Greenland Tourism Firm Nixes Usha Vance Visit Over “Media Spectacle” Concerns

 

A Greenland tourism company has pulled out of hosting a planned visit by Second Lady Usha Vance, citing fears that the event would turn into a media circus. Tupilak Travel, based in Nuuk, decided to cancel the days-long tour that was originally set to offer Vance and one of her children an immersive experience in Greenlandic culture, including a visit to the annual dogsled race.

Originally, the U.S. Consulate had reached out to Tupilak Travel ahead of the trip, which was intended to highlight Greenland’s unique cultural heritage. The White House later announced that JD Vance, Usha Vance’s husband, would accompany her on a separate, brief visit to the U.S. Pituffik Space Base on Greenland’s northwestern coast.

In a strongly worded statement, Tupilak Travel explained their decision:

“When the American consulate called yesterday to ask if the wife of the U.S. Vice President, Usha Vance, could visit our store on Friday, we replied that she was welcome. After all, everyone is welcome in our store. However, upon further consideration, we have now informed the consulate that we do not wish to host her visit, as we cannot accept the underlying agenda and do not want to be part of the media spectacle that will inevitably follow. No thanks to a nice visit… Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”

The cancellation comes amid heightened tensions over U.S. ambitions in the Arctic. Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to control Greenland—a semi-autonomous region of Denmark—an assertion that has drawn ire from both Greenlanders and Danish officials. While Trump has claimed that the visit is meant to showcase “friendliness, not provocation,” his remarks continue to fuel controversy over America’s territorial interests in the region.

U.S. Vice President Vance has also been vocal, criticizing Denmark for what he deems inadequate stewardship of Greenland. “If that means that we need to take more territorial interest in Greenland, that is what President Trump is going to do,” Vance told Fox News, arguing that American citizens’ interests must come first, regardless of European objections.

As the debate over U.S. involvement in Greenland intensifies, Tupilak Travel’s decision to cancel Vance’s visit sends a clear message: Greenland’s future should be determined by its own people, free from external agendas and media theatrics.

Stay tuned as this story develops, and we continue to explore how geopolitical ambitions and local resistance are reshaping the narrative in the Arctic.