The US Consulate in Nuuk has posted a job listing seeking unpaid interns to manage its communications channels, with the position focused on "communicating US foreign policy priorities to a Greenlandic audience." The listing makes no mention of what those priorities are, but sources suggest they may rhyme with "minnow fraction."
The timing is either incredibly tone-deaf or brilliantly cynical. It comes as President Trump has escalated threats to annex the semi-autonomous Danish territory, going so far as to suggest military force might be necessary to acquire the island that absolutely no one there wants him to have.
The interns, who will work for free because apparently that's how you win hearts and minds, will receive financial support from Danish taxpayers. Yes, Denmark will pay people to help the US explain why Denmark should give up Greenland. It's like asking someone to fund the legal fees for their own divorce.
The job description involves "communicating US foreign policy priorities," which appears to be diplomatic speak for "convincing 56,000 Greenlanders that becoming the 51st state would be a great idea, actually." Previous experience in persuasive writing, crisis communications, or hostage negotiation presumably a plus.
The US is simultaneously threatening to annex a territory while asking locals to volunteer their time explaining why the annexation is good, with Denmark footing the bill.
Denmark is not thrilled. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen used her New Year's speech to take a swipe at the concept of "wanting to take over another country, other people, as if it were something you could buy and own," adding that Denmark has never increased its military strength "so significantly, so quickly."
Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede has firmly stated that decisions about Greenland are made in Greenland, though apparently this message requires unpaid Danish-funded interns to help convey it to the US Consulate that posted the job listing in the first place.
The listing does not specify whether interns will work from the consulate building, which thousands of Greenlanders recently marched to while carrying signs reading "Stop threats and aggression! Don't take over our country." Those presumably were not the communication channels the US had in mind.
Trump has defended his interest in Greenland by saying the US "absolutely needs" it for national security reasons, and also because he likes its rare earth minerals. The administration insists this is purely about security, not resources, which is why they keep mentioning the resources.
The US Consulate later clarified that they're looking for interns who are "team players" and "comfortable working independently," which seems contradictory until you realize the whole situation is contradictory.