By Anietie Anii-Bassey
A bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers traveled to Denmark on Saturday in an effort to reassure Danish and Greenlandic leaders of continued American support, following sharp rhetoric from President Donald Trump suggesting the United States could impose tariffs on countries that refuse to back a U.S. takeover of Greenland.
The visit came amid growing unease across the Kingdom of Denmark, which includes the self-governing Arctic island, after Trump renewed his long-standing argument that Greenland should come under U.S. control for national security reasons.
Leading the delegation, Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware said the language coming from Washington had sparked understandable concern and risked damaging trust between close allies.
Speaking in Copenhagen, Coons emphasized the importance of de-escalation and alliance solidarity. He said the United States deeply values its relationship with Denmark and its role within NATO, warning that aggressive threats could undermine confidence in American leadership.
Coons added that he hoped the people of Denmark would not lose faith in the American public despite the tone of recent statements from the White House.
As the delegation met with officials, public opposition to Trump’s remarks was visible in the streets of Copenhagen. Thousands of demonstrators marched through the city carrying Greenlandic flags and banners rejecting the idea that the island could be bought or coerced.
Some signs directly mocked the U.S. president’s rhetoric, while others stressed the principle of sovereignty and self-determination.
One protester, Elise Riechie, said the issue went far beyond Greenland and Denmark. She argued that allowing powerful nations to pressure smaller ones into surrendering territory would set a dangerous global precedent. Similar demonstrations were planned in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, and in other parts of the Danish kingdom.
The remarks from Coons stood in sharp contrast to those coming from the White House. Trump has repeatedly claimed that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security, citing concerns about China and Russia expanding their influence in the Arctic.
He has pointed to Greenland’s vast, largely untapped reserves of critical minerals as another reason the island should fall under American control. The administration has not explicitly ruled out the use of force, further unsettling European allies.
Coons rejected the premise that Greenland faces an imminent security threat. He said there is no current danger that would justify such extraordinary measures and argued that cooperation with allies, rather than coercion, has long been the foundation of U.S. security strategy in the region.
Trump has pushed the idea of U.S. control over Greenland for months, describing the territory — which is autonomous but remains part of Denmark — as too important to be left outside American hands. Earlier this week, he said that any outcome short of U.S. control would be “unacceptable.”
At a separate White House event focused on rural health care, Trump expanded on the idea of using economic pressure to advance his position.
He said he had previously threatened European allies with tariffs on pharmaceutical products and suggested that similar measures could be used to force agreement over Greenland. The comments marked the first time he openly discussed tariffs as a tool to influence the issue.
Diplomatic efforts to contain the fallout have so far produced limited progress. Earlier in the week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland traveled to Washington for talks with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
While the meetings did not bridge the fundamental disagreement over Greenland’s future, both sides agreed to establish a working group. However, Danish officials and the White House later offered conflicting accounts of what that group would actually do.
European leaders have been firm in their response, insisting that decisions about Greenland rest solely with Denmark and the Greenlandic people.
Denmark has also announced plans to increase its military presence on the island, coordinating closely with allies to reinforce security without altering Greenland’s political status.
Coons stressed that Denmark remains one of America’s most reliable partners, noting its long record of cooperation with the United States on defense and international security.
He warned that if Washington acts in ways that cause Danes to doubt U.S. commitment to NATO and shared values, it could have far-reaching consequences beyond the Arctic.
“If we erode the trust of an ally as close as Denmark,” Coons said, “it raises serious questions about why any other country would believe in our promises or stand with us in the future.”
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