The commander of the U.S. Space Force base in Greenland was removed from her post Thursday following her criticism of Vice President JD Vance's controversial remarks about Denmark and American ambitions for the Arctic island, marking the latest personnel shakeup amid the Trump administration's growing push to assert control over Greenland.
Colonel Susannah Meyers, who had led the Pituffik Space Base since July, was dismissed due to a "loss of confidence in her ability to lead," according to a statement from the U.S. Space Force. The Pentagon confirmed the move and posted an accompanying statement on X, formerly Twitter. "Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump's agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote.
The removal followed Meyers' internal message distancing the base from Vice President Vance's comments during a March 28 visit. "I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base," Meyers wrote in a March 31 email, first reported by Military.com.
Vance, accompanied by his wife Usha Vance, traveled to the U.S. outpost on Greenland's northwest coast amid increasing friction between Washington and Copenhagen over the territory's future. The vice president criticized Denmark's governance of Greenland during a press conference at the base, stating, "You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass."
Greenland, while self-governing, remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, which retains authority over its foreign and defense affairs. Trump has repeatedly voiced his interest in acquiring the island, telling reporters he "won't take anything off the table," including military force, though he added there's a "good possibility" diplomacy could suffice.
Trump said earlier this year that this is about U.S. national and international security, echoing Vance's claim that the U.S. has "no other option" but to expand its presence in the Arctic to counter threats from China and Russia.
Colonel Shawn Lee has replaced Meyers as commander of Pituffik Space Base, according to a release from Space Operations Command. The Danish defense ministry declined to comment.
Joe Kasper, chief of staff at the Department of Defense, emphasized that "civilian control of the military is a bedrock principle of our armed forces. Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump's agenda will not be tolerated at the defense department."
