Protesters wave Greenlandic flags as they participate in a rally below the slogans ‘palms off Greenland’ and ‘Greenland for Greenlanders’, in entrance of Metropolis Corridor in Copenhagen, Denmark on January 17, 2026.
EMIL HELMS/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP through Getty Ima/AFP
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EMIL HELMS/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP through Getty Ima/AFP
COPENHAGEN – 1000’s of individuals marched from Copenhagen Metropolis Corridor to the U.S. embassy Saturday afternoon in protest of President Trump’s feedback that he needs to amass Greenland.
The gang, waving Greenlandic flags, chanted “Greenland is not for sale.” Many demonstrators wore crimson hats in Trump’s personal “Make America great again” style that learn, “Make America go away.”
Trump has continued to endorse the concept of buying Greenland, which he says the U.S. wants for nationwide safety functions. The U.S. already has a army presence on the island.
“One way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland,” Trump advised reporters just lately on Air Power One.
Saturday’s protest got here on the heels of a bipartisan Congressional delegation that travelled to Copenhagen. Home and Senate lawmakers met with Danish and Greenlandic officers, in addition to members of the Danish enterprise group. The go to was meant to be a reassurance tour — affirming the longstanding relationship between the U.S. and the Kingdom of Denmark within the face of Trump’s rhetoric.
Peder Dam, who lives in Denmark, attended the demonstration with an indication that featured a picture of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker from Star Wars that learn: “Americans: I know there is good in you. Come back to sanity.”
“We know what is going on in the White House is not representative for all Americans,” he advised NPR.
Peder Dam attended the protest alongside his son Gorm. They every carried indicators: one with a cartoon of Trump stepping on leggos with a caption that learn: “Denmark is small, but we fight with what we have”; and one other with a picture of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker from Star Wars that learn: “Americans: I know there is good in you. Come back to sanity.”
Barbara Sprunt, NPR
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Barbara Sprunt, NPR
However he mentioned he wonders why there is not extra widespread outrage from the American public.
“I can’t understand. If my government said they would attack Sweden, then Denmark would step up and protest that,” he mentioned. “I like protests in the U.S. But why aren’t there more normal, average Americans stepping up, trying to protest what is going on? It’s crazy.”
One other protester, Thomas, whom NPR is figuring out solely by his first identify due to issues about retaliation at work, mentioned the march represents “an unseen stage of resentment in direction of the U.S.
“I cannot express how deeply disappointed I am — that we have sent our troops to die with you in Iraq, we were with you in Afghanistan,” he mentioned. “How dare you turn your back on us in this way?”
He mentioned whereas he thinks Individuals won’t imagine that Trump will really invade Greenland, that is a skepticism that folks within the Kingdom of Denmark cannot afford.
“I don’t think it’s going to happen, but we don’t know,” he mentioned. “And that’s creating an unprecedented level of emotional uncertainty and political uncertainty.”
One demonstrator held up an indication that learn: “Trump: Your need for megalomaniac legacy needs a psychiatrist — not Greenland.” 1000’s of demonstrators took to the streets of Copenhagen Saturday, protesting in opposition to Trump’s rhetoric surrounding the proposed U.S. acquisition Greenland.
Barbara Sprunt, NPR
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Barbara Sprunt, NPR
Naja Mathilde Rosing mentioned the march felt intensely private. She and her household are from Greenland.
“We are here to show solidarity, that we do not wish to be a part of the United States,” she advised NPR. “We are strong as we are, and we are not interested in having anything to do with America.”
She pushed again on Trump’s claims that Russia and China are encircling Greenland, claiming it is a crimson herring. The U.S. Congressional delegation advised reporters that there is no intelligence suggesting that, both.
Rosing mentioned the concept itself of buying Greenland is offensive to indigenous communities, who she mentioned respect the land and do not see it as one thing you’ll be able to personal.
“America has a sense of feeling they can steal land from the Native Americans, steal land from the indigenous Hawaiian people, steal land from the indigenous Inuit from Alaska,” she mentioned. “You cannot buy Greenland, you cannot buy a people. It is so wrong, disrespectful to think that you can purchase a country and a people.”
Charlotte Holm lives in Copenhagen however has household in Greenland.
“They’re so scared,” she mentioned. “They’re afraid because they don’t know what’s going to happen to their society.”
She mentioned the message to the U.S. is straightforward: “Leave them alone. Go focus on the Epstein files, go focus on the midterm elections.”
She mentioned she hopes Trump will “get obsessed with something else” however worries in regards to the ripple impact of any doable U.S. encroachment into Greenland.
“It’s going to reshape fundamentally the world order if he does. NATO’s going to implode,” she mentioned, echoing related feedback from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. “We need American citizens to call their Republican representatives and tell them we need to take care of NATO, because if we go across that line, there’s no going back. You can’t put the toothpaste back into the tube.”
