U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he had a “great conversation” with the Danish prime minister after he abandoned plans to visit the country over Denmark refusing to sell Greenland to the U.S.
According to The Hill, the President praised Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen as a “wonderful woman” before leaving the White House for the Group of Seven (G-7) summit in France. The comments came two days after Trump complained that Frederiksen had a “nasty” response to his musings about buying Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
“We had a great conversation. We have a very good relationship with Denmark, and we agreed to speak later,” Trump said Friday night. “But she was very nice. She put a call in, and I appreciated it very much.”
Trump was planning to visit Denmark on Sept. 2, where he was expected to meet with the Queen of Denmark, other leaders and business officials. He was also expected to meet Greenland Premier Kim Kielsen.
But Trump abruptly canceled the trip on Monday night after Danish and Greenlandic leaders made clear that the island was not for sale. The President had privately mused about buying it, and later said it made sense as a “strategic” purchase.
Frederiksen called the idea “absurd” and said she hoped Trump did not mean it seriously.
Trump took exception to her comments and ratcheted up the feud on Wednesday.
He defended his decision to postpone a state visit to Denmark, accusing the country’s prime minister of making a “nasty and inappropriate statement” in rejecting his desire to discuss possibly purchasing Greenland.
“I thought it was an inappropriate statement,” Trump said. “All she had to do is say, ‘No, we wouldn’t be interested’.”
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