On Saturday, Greenland witnessed a wave of protests as locals voiced their strong opposition to President Donald Trump’s proposal to acquire the Arctic island. Demonstrators gathered in the capital, Nuuk, chanting slogans like “not for sale” and asserting their right to self-determination, according to a report by Reuters.
One protester, captured on video during the demonstrations, emphatically declared, “We are not interested in being Americans,” highlighting the sentiments of many Greenlanders who wish to chart their own course.
The protests came in the wake of Trump’s renewed efforts to purchase Greenland, which included a post on Truth Social. In the post made on Saturday, Trump announced impending tariffs on several European countries, aimed at pressuring them into striking a deal for the island’s acquisition by the United States.
Trump’s message warned that Denmark and other European nations would face a 10% tariff starting February 1, escalating to 25% by June 1. He emphasized that these tariffs would remain in effect “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”
Amid the protests in Nuuk, some participants donned red baseball caps reminiscent of the “Make America Great Again” hats popularized by Trump supporters. However, these caps bore a different message: “Make America Go Away,” symbolizing the protesters’ rejection of the U.S. leader’s ambitions.
Some demonstrators wore red baseball caps styled after the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hats worn by Trump supporters, but with the slogan “Make America Go Away.”
In Nuuk, thousands of protesters led by Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen marched toward the U.S. consulate carrying flags and banners while chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat,” the island’s name in Greenlandic, according to Reuters. Nielsen addressed the crowd outside the consulate, drawing loud cheers.
“I’ve come here today because I think it’s important to show that Greenland is not for sale. It is not a toy. This is our home,” Naja Holm, a civil servant, told Reuters.
A protester takes part in a demonstration Saturday to show support for Greenland in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Reuters/Tom Little)
Trump has said Greenland is vital to U.S. national security because of its strategic Arctic location and mineral resources, and has warned that China and Russia are seeking influence on the island. He has argued that U.S. control would strengthen Western security in the region.
The dispute has drawn sharp reaction from European leaders.
Sweden’s prime minister said Europe would not be “blackmailed,” while French President Emmanuel Macron warned that tariff threats were unacceptable and said Europe would respond in a united and coordinated manner in an X post.
People attend a protest Saturday against the Trump administration’s demand that the Arctic island be ceded to the U.S. (Reuters/Marko Djurica)
“No intimidation nor threat will influence us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world when we are confronted with such situations,” wrote Macron in an X post. “Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context. Europeans will respond to them in a united and coordinated manner if they were to be confirmed.”
Prime Minister David van Weel of the Netherlands also took to social media in response.
“We have taken note of President Trump’s announcement on tariffs,” van Weel wrote. “Military efforts related to exercises in Greenland are intended to contribute to security in the Arctic region. The Netherlands is in close contact with the @EU_Commission and partners on our response.”
Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark with a population of about 57,000.
All political parties represented in Greenland’s parliament support eventual independence, but they differ on timing and have said they would prefer to remain part of Denmark rather than become part of the U.S., Reuters reported.
