Demonstrators in Nuuk and major Danish cities rejected President Trump’s proposal to bring Greenland under U.S. control, citing self-determination, international law, and public opposition within the territory.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Thousands of people gathered in Greenland and Denmark on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump’s stated plans for the United States to acquire Greenland, as opposition to the proposal spread across the Arctic territory and mainland Europe.
In Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, demonstrators assembled under light rain, waving Greenlandic flags and chanting slogans while singing traditional Inuit songs. Among those attending was Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who joined the crowd during the rally.
Many protesters wore caps reading “Make America Go Away,” a play on Trump’s campaign slogan. Others carried signs stating “Greenland is not for sale,” while chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat,” the Greenlandic name for the island.
The demonstration in Nuuk coincided with coordinated protests across Denmark, including a large gathering in Copenhagen. Protesters there waved Danish and Greenlandic flags and voiced support for Greenland’s autonomy.
“We don’t want Trump invading Greenland, that is the message,” said Paarniq Larsen Strum, a 44-year-old nurse who attended the Nuuk protest. She described the situation as “nerve-wracking.”
In Copenhagen, charity worker Kirsten Hjoernholm, 52, said the demonstrations were intended to show solidarity with Greenlanders. “You cannot be bullied by an ally. It’s about international law,” she said.
Some demonstrators in Denmark held placards referencing U.S. immigration enforcement, including signs reading “USA already has too much ICE,” while others focused on Greenland’s status and sovereignty.
The protests followed Trump’s warning Friday that the United States could impose tariffs on countries opposing his plans regarding Greenland. Trump has repeatedly said the U.S. “needs” Greenland for national security, arguing that Denmark, a NATO ally, is unable to adequately defend the territory.
Greenland, a mineral-rich island at the gateway to the Arctic, has a population of about 57,000 people and is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Public opinion in Greenland has strongly opposed any transfer of sovereignty. According to a poll published in January 2025, 85 percent of Greenlanders oppose joining the United States, while only six percent support the idea.
European NATO members have responded to the dispute by deploying troops to Greenland in recent days as part of a military exercise. French officials said the exercise was intended to demonstrate allied commitment to defending the territory. Danish officials said the United States had been invited to participate.
The Copenhagen protest coincided with a visit by a delegation of U.S. lawmakers who held meetings with Danish and Greenlandic officials. The delegation was led by Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, who said Trump’s position does not reflect the views of most Americans.
“There are legitimate reasons for us to explore ways to invest better in Arctic security broadly, both in the American Arctic and in our NATO partners and allies,” Coons told reporters. “But there is no security threat that justifies this approach.”
Organizers of the demonstrations said the protests were meant to send a unified message to Washington. Uagut, an association of Greenlanders living in Denmark, said the goal was to affirm Greenland’s democratic rights and political autonomy.
“We demand respect for our country’s right to self-determination and for us as a people,” said Avijaja Rosing-Olsen, an organizer of the Greenland protest. “This is not only our struggle, it is a struggle that concerns the entire world.”
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