Jeff Landry’s Greenland Mission: ‘Culinary Diplomacy,’ Dogsleds and a Diplomatic Firestorm

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, tapped by President Donald Trump as a special envoy on Greenland, has embraced an unusually informal approach: he says he prefers meeting ordinary Greenlanders to diplomats and even plans to attend a dogsled race on the island in March. His style — heavy on Cajun charm, social media and blunt rhetoric — has elevated his national profile while raising concerns among Danish and Greenlandic officials and some foreign-policy observers.

An Unconventional Envoy

Appointed in December, Landry has framed his outreach as "culinary diplomacy," saying Louisiana hospitality could help build ties. On Fox News Radio’s "The Brian Kilmeade Show," he proposed offering Greenlanders improved economic opportunities in exchange for expanded U.S. military presence and access to rare-earth mineral development. The White House defended the choice, saying a governor’s executive experience can be an asset for practical, on-the-ground engagement.

People walk in downtown of Nuuk, Greenland, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Pushback From Denmark And Greenland

Denmark — Greenland’s sovereign country — and Greenland’s political leaders have firmly rejected U.S. overtures. Danish officials warned that attempts to seize control of Greenland would imperil NATO, the alliance that has undergirded European security since World War II. The Danish ambassador to Washington publicly pushed back after Landry posted on X that the United States protected Greenland during World War II "when Denmark couldn’t," a claim that prompted a rebuke from Copenhagen.

Style Over Protocol?

Landry’s combative social-media presence and limited diplomatic experience worry critics. "You don’t negotiate the future of a country on social media," said Peter Bisgaard, a former Danish consular officer. Supporters counter that Landry’s personality and negotiating instincts could advance U.S. aims and that his close ties to the president make him an effective emissary.

FILE - Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry speaks to reporters at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, La., Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

"He understands that Greenland is essential to our national security," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said, adding that Greenlanders would allegedly benefit from U.S. protection in the region.

Who Is Jeff Landry?

Landry spent eight years as Louisiana attorney general and was elected governor in 2023. He is known for a combative public style and for championing conservative policies on abortion, LGBTQ rights and immigration. His critics say he has reduced transparency and rushed legislation through the statehouse; his backers say he is an energetic implementer of a Trump-style agenda.

Questions About Authority And Purpose

Landry’s office told records requesters that "any work done by the Governor regarding this project is voluntary and not state business." The White House has not ruled out military options in pursuit of U.S. interests in Greenland — a possibility that has alarmed NATO partners and drawn sharp criticism internationally.

Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, third from left, Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, not shown, and their delegations leave the Old Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the grounds of the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Local Reaction In Greenland

Organizers of Greenland’s national dogsledding championship said Landry’s possible attendance would be "wholly inappropriate." Mikkel Jeremiassen, chairman of the Greenland Dogsledding Association, expressed concern about a political figure using cultural events for a geopolitical agenda.

Brook reported from New Orleans. Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed to this report.

Correction: Landry was elected governor in 2023, not 2024.