Vice President and First Lady J.D. and Usha Vance toured a U.S. military base in Greenland on Friday in an abbreviated visit that was supposed to span three days until residents of the country expressed opposition to a broader tour.

Originally, Usha Vance planned to take a delegation of officials on a three-day visit to the icy nation to explore the culture and meet dignitaries.

But President Donald Trump's comments about wanting to acquire the country from Denmark rubbed residents the wrong way, and the U.S. delegation was disinvited to all but a tour of its own military base.

At that point, the vice president decided to accompany his wife on the abbreviated trip.

Denmark Notified

Pituffik Space Base, on the northwest coast of Greenland, contains some Space Force resources. The Vances also checked out the security of the base.

The area where the base sits is rich in minerals used to power electronics, which is why Trump wants to acquire the nation.

“We have to have Greenland,” Mr. Trump reiterated in the Oval Office on Friday. “It’s not a question of, ‘Do you think we can do without it?’ We can’t.”

J.D. Vance addressed Denmark with pointed remarks during the tour.

“Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said. “You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people. That has to change.”

Independent Greenland?

Vance suggested that an independent Greenland that partnered with the United States would benefit its people.

“I think that they ultimately will partner with the United States,” Vance said. “We could make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection. And I think they’d fare a lot better economically as well.”

Vance also addressed U.S. troops at the base and along with Mike Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), received briefings from officials there.

Vance said he wasn't prepared for the cold; it was -3 degrees Fahrenheit when the delegation landed at the base.

He said that he didn't think military force would be necessary to ensure a partnership between the U.S. and Greenland, but felt that Trump would be able to cut a deal that would benefit both sides.