OAN Staff James Meyers
10:14 AM – Friday, April 11, 2025
The officer in charge of the U.S. Space Force base in Greenland was stripped of her command after she sent out a mass email that distanced herself from statements made by Vice President JD Vance and the Trump administration.
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The Space Force announced Thursday evening that it removed Colonel Susannah Meyers as leader of Pituffik Space Base “for loss of confidence in her ability to lead.”
“Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties,” the Space Operations Command’s statement read.
Meyers, who took over command of the 821st Space Group in July 2024, sent a message to her personnel under her command stating that the views discussed by Vance during his visit on March 28th, “are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base.”
“[I] spent the weekend thinking about Friday’s visit — the actions taken, the words spoken, and how it must have affected each of you,” she wrote to her subordinates in the email obtained by Military.com and verified by the Space Force.
“I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the US administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base.”
“I commit that, for as long as I am lucky enough to lead this base, all of our flags will fly proudly — together,” Meyers added.
She sent out the email on March 31st, showing her frustration over comments made by Vance about possibly annexing Greenland.
The message to the entire base is seen as unusual, as publicly speaking out against the commander-in-chief is not seen as a move by military leadership.
Meyers, who spent almost 20 years as an Air Force officer before switching branches to the Space Force in May 2021, oversaw close to 200 military personnel while in command of the U.S.’ northernmost military base.
During the Veep’s visit to Greenland, the New York Post stated that they witnessed Meyers discussing her plans to retire in the next few months.
In total, 650 men and women, including civilian contractors from Greenland, Denmark and Canada, live and work at Pituffik Space Base.
With Meyers being relieved of duties, Space Operations Command announced that Colonel Shawn Lee will take over the highly touted position.
“Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense,” the assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, Sean Parnell, wrote on X.
Vance’s press secretary Taylor Van Kirk said in a statement: “Vice President Vance is grateful for his visit to Pituffik Space Base and for the opportunity to meet with our brave servicemen and women stationed there.”
“President Trump has made his vision for an enhanced security footprint in the arctic abundantly clear, and the Vice President is committed to implementing the President’s agenda. This includes strengthening the partnership and cooperation between the United States and Greenland, which is critical for both American national security and the safety of our partners worldwide.”
With the announcement, Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee celebrated Meyers’ removal in a series of X statements, with Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) applauding the DOD in relieving her.
Furthermore, Vance slammed Denmark during his trip for not doing a “good job by the people of Greenland” and called out Copenhagen for not investing more into the world’s largest island’s “security architecture.”
“When the president says ‘We’ve got to have Greenland,’ he’s saying this island is not safe,” Vance responded to a question from The Post, singling out Russia and China as potential threats.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple: 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 filled with incredible people.”
The 47th president has previously expressed his desire to to take control of Greenland.
However, the vice president said the country’s estimated 57,000 permanent residents would first have to choose independence and then enter into partnership talks with the U.S.
However, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen scolded the Trump administration’s “tone” after Vance’s visit.
“We are open to criticism, but let me be completely honest — we do not appreciate the tone in which it is being delivered,” Rasmussen said in a video message in English on X.
“This is not how you speak to your close allies.”
Rasmussen also cited the 1951 U.S.-Denmark agreement that allowed the U.S. to build more military bases in Greenland and noted that both countries are part of NATO and share security responsibilities on the island already.
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