Washington, D.C. January 19, 2026 – On the day of President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration for his second non-consecutive term, Democratic Representative Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District sparked widespread debate with a post on X (formerly Twitter) criticizing the new administration. Stansbury shared an image purporting to be an official White House letter addressed to “Jonas,” seemingly in reference to a Danish official, in which the president revives his long-standing interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark.
The letter, dated from the White House and signed “President DJT,” begins by expressing disappointment over Denmark’s decision not to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his claimed role in stopping “8 Wars PLUS.” It then shifts to geopolitical matters, questioning Denmark’s ownership of Greenland and suggesting the U.S. has a historical claim due to past explorations. “Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also,” the letter states.
Further, it boasts of Trump’s contributions to NATO and concludes with a stark declaration: “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.” Stansbury’s post accompanying the image reads: “This President is unhinged. Our colleagues across the aisle who control both chambers MUST take action. Silence and inaction are not an option.”
The post quickly garnered attention, amassing over 600 likes and dozens of replies within hours. Reactions were polarized, reflecting the deep partisan divide in Washington. Supporters of the president dismissed the criticism as partisan hysteria. One user, @kwasny007 , accused Stansbury of “projection,” arguing that Congress itself is “unhinged” for failing to address issues like immigration and judicial oversight. Another, @ondeezenutsbob , questioned the characterization, asking, “What makes this unhinged? Is it because of a political stance? A war stance? Or is it because you can’t conceive the idea of chess moves?”
Critics, however, echoed Stansbury’s alarm. @JasADRxquisites called for impeachment, stating, “He’s completely out of his mind at this stage, He definitely needs to be impeached and definitely needs to be in prison.” @CraigAbalos urged Republicans to act swiftly, warning, “The GOP has to realize that if we wait for Trump to destroy things, it will be too late.” Another reply from @katmdr07 demanded daily Democratic press conferences to counter the administration’s actions.
This incident harks back to Trump’s first term, when in 2019 he publicly expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, for strategic and resource reasons. The proposal was rebuffed by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who called it “absurd,” leading to Trump canceling a planned state visit. Greenland’s strategic importance has grown amid climate change, with melting ice revealing mineral resources and new shipping routes, while also heightening concerns over Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic.
As of this reporting, the White House has not issued a statement confirming or denying the authenticity of the letter. Stansbury’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on how the document was obtained. With Republicans holding majorities in both the House and Senate following the 2024 elections, any push for investigative action faces an uphill battle.
The episode underscores the immediate tensions of Trump’s second term, as Democrats vow to hold the administration accountable amid promises of sweeping policy changes. Observers note that such early controversies could set the tone for the next four years, particularly on foreign policy fronts like NATO relations and Arctic security.
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