Governor Landry is speaking out about his new side hustle as special envoy to Greenland. In a video posted to social media, Landry said President Trump approached him about the opportunity.
“And the President said, ‘You know what? You went to Korea one time and came back with a steel mill. Could you go to Greenland and talk to them about the opportunity of being a part of the United States?” Landry said.
Landry said perhaps with the exception of the governor of Alaska, he’s the one best suited to have a conversation with the government of Greenland about becoming a part of the United States.
“As a Cajun, my family and the families in Louisiana have lived in this state for over 300 years. And we have lived under more flags than anyone living in the continental United States,” Landry explained.
Greenland is a territory of Denmark, and the Danish government is furious at Trump’s and Landry’s comments. Trump has long expressed a desire to wrest control of Greenland from Denmark, remarking in the past that he would not rule out military force to do so. Landry, though, put a friendly spin on his mission.
“All we’re going to do is go have a great conversation with those folks in Greenland. They’re in the Western Hemisphere. Fits inside the Monroe Doctrine. And we’re going to bring them some great Cajun food,” Landry said.
By naming Governor Landry special envoy to Greenland, President Trump is once again ramping up efforts to wrest the island from Denmark. In a social media post thanking Trump, Landry said, in his words, “It’s an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S.” Jeremy Alford, the publisher of LaPolitics.com, says the choice of Landry as special envoy to Greenland is an interesting one.
” I think it’s comical, and it captured the imagination of the folks who work around the capitol that we’re going to have a Cajun in Greenland negotiating on behalf of the president. I think that’s, on the surface of it at least, very entertaining,” Alford said.
Denmark says it’s deeply upset by the move, with that country’s foreign minister calling Landry’s comments completely unacceptable. Alford says Trump has had visions of making Greenland a part of the U.S. for a while, dating back to his first presidency.
“Denmark was very quick to say that an American acquisition was not on the table. The President, in response, was very quick to say that America would consider everything from military force to diplomacy,” Alford explained.
Alford says by tapping Landry as special envoy to Greenland, Trump is telling the world he is very serious in his quest to capture Greenland.
“He’s sending a very strong message to Denmark, and the rest of the world, that it’s not just some policy hack that’s being appointed to this diplomatic position. He has chosen an elected official, one that leads an entire state,” Alford said.
With Governor Landry serving as special envoy to Greenland, how does that affect his job at home? Alford says being that the capital of Greenland is almost 3,000 miles from Baton Rouge, that will make Landry’s new side hustle a little challenging.
“If the Governor’s going to spend a considerable amount of time in Greenland, that’s obviously going to take him away from Louisiana,” Alford noted.
Alford says logistics could also be an issue.
“There’s also questions about his State Police detail, and how that is going to work out with this and how that dovetails with any kind of federal protections he would be receiving,” Alford said.
Alford says while there are state laws that prohibit people from holding two offices at the state time, those refer to state positions. Thus, a volunteer role as a special envoy would not fall into that category.
“I certainly don’t think Jeff Landry would be interested in breaking any kind of guidelines or protocols in regard to that,” Alford said.
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