Trump rips Denmark PM over 'nasty' Greenland rejection

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Denmark's recently-seated prime minister was "nasty" when she rebuffed his offer to purchase Greenland.

The remarks broke with previous praise he issued to her on the matter.

Trump on Tuesday postponed a visit planned for Greenland that was expected to take place within two weeks, citing Denmark's rejection of the proposal.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Sunday the idea is “absurd" -- shortly after news broke that Trump was mulling the potential purchase.

"Greenland is not Danish. Greenland is Greenlandic," she told reporters. "I persistently hope that this is not something that is seriously meant."

Trump said he thought Frederiksen's statement was "inappropriate."

"All she had to do was say 'no, we wouldn't be interested,'" he said. "I thought it was a very not nice way of saying something. They could have told me no."

Trump said others have had the idea of purchasing Greenland, including former President Harry Truman.

Trump's comments are a fry cry from the words he used in his initial tweet canceling the trip in which he thanked Frederiksen for "being so direct."

Greenland is an autonomous country that is part of Denmark.

Trump is set to leave later this week for France to participate in the G-7 leaders summit in Biarritz.