WASHINGTON — The Trump administration raised the temperature with Denmark Thursday ahead of Vice President JD Vance’s trip to Greenland — accusing the Danes of “mistreating” Greenlandic people against the backdrop of President Trump openly talking about annexing the island.

“The Vice President and Second Lady are embarking on a historic expedition with their visit to Greenland, where the Vice President will emphasize the importance of bolstering [Arctic] security in places like Pituffik Space Base,” a senior White House official said.

“Unfortunately, Danish leaders have spent decades mistreating the Greenlandic people, treating them like second class citizens and allowing infrastructure on the island to fall into disrepair. Expect the Vice President to emphasize these points as well.”

The Vance trip caused a stir even before the VP was set to join the trip. Initially, his wife Usha Vance was going to attend a dogsled race in Greenland on Saturday with their children — but Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called it “unacceptable pressure.” A Greenlandic store also rescinded its invitation to host the second lady during the trip.

National security advisor Mike Waltz will also attend the trip, sources familiar with the plans told The Post. He was originally going to be part of the US delegation on the second lady’s trip, but his name was omitted in the announcement Wednesday that the trip plans had changed. 

Tensions between Washington and Copenhagen have grown for months as the president has repeatedly said he’s keen on the US taking over the island belonging to Denmark — and not ruling out the use of military force to do so. 

The Trump administration is interested in the Greenlandic people determining their own fate and voting for independence from Denmark, and then joining the US.

“For decades, Denmark has severely underinvested in Greenland,” said a source with direct knowledge of the trip. “As the President said on Truth Social, we not only respect Greenlanders’ right to determine their own future, but also are committed to keeping them safe, as we have since World War II, and are ready to invest billions to help develop their natural resources.”

Donald Trump Jr. had also scouted out the island for a podcast episode in January, putting his father on speakerphone to tell Greenlandic residents that the US acquiring the Arctic country could mean bolstering security against the Russians and Chinese, who are increasing their presence in the region.

“I just want to say it’s a very special place. It needs security for itself but it also needs security very much for the world,” Trump said at the time.

The Vances are currently only set to go to the Pituffik Space Base and visit with American Guardians who are stationed there at the US Department of Defense’s northernmost installation.

The second couple will also be briefed on Arctic security by US service members who engage in missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance missions for the Space Force.

Usha Vance was originally scheduled to attend a sled dog race with her son and wave the starting flag, but is now not expected to go.

Tom Dans, who worked in the first Trump administration on Arctic issues and is the founder of American Daybreak, told The Post he pitched to visits by both the Vances and the first son.

“It was meant to kind of bring our peoples together a little bit … that was spirit. I mean [the Avannaata Qimussersua dogsled race] is the most highly attended, highly watched event of the year,” he said.

“It’s Greenland’s Super Bowl, and so we wanted to help. They’re woefully underfunded and we wanted to draw attention to the culture and the dogs — they are a 9,500-year-old breed of dogs. It’s the oldest in the world.”

Dans responded “sure” when asked if he was disappointed that the second lady’s trip to the race had been scrapped, but added “hey, there’s next year and for us, it’s only the beginning.”