US President Donald Trump is once again making headlines, this time with an audacious plan to buy Greenland.
On Saturday, he announced a series of tariffs on multiple European nations, warning that the United States would raise them unless Greenland is ceded to Washington.
According to Trump’s post on Truth Social, a 10 percent tariff on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would start on February 1.
If a deal isn’t reached by June 1, the tariffs would jump to 25 percent, and they would remain in effect until Greenland is sold to the US.
Protests Erupt Across Denmark and Greenland
Trump’s remarks sparked immediate backlash.
Across Copenhagen, demonstrators marched to the U.S. embassy waving Greenland’s red-and-white flag and holding signs that read “Greenland is not for sale” and “Hands off Greenland.”
Some protesters wore red baseball caps styled after Trump’s “Make America Great Again” hats, but theirs read “Make America Go Away.”
In Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, thousands of people, led by Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, took to the streets carrying banners and chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat,” Greenland’s name in the local language.
Civil servant Naja Holm told reporters, “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.”
Julie Rademacher, chair of Uagut, an organization representing Greenlanders in Denmark, praised the turnout.
“I am very grateful for the huge support we as Greenlanders receive … we are also sending a message to the world that you all must wake up,” she said.
Organizers estimated over 20,000 people protested in Copenhagen alone—roughly the same as the entire population of Nuuk.
Strategic Significance Sparks Diplomatic Fallout
Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is crucial to US security due to its strategic Arctic location and vast mineral resources.
He has even suggested that military action remains on the table to acquire the territory.
In response, European nations have sent troops to Greenland at Denmark’s request.
This aggressive stance has created a diplomatic crisis between the United States and Denmark, both key NATO allies.
Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, has enjoyed significant autonomy since 1979 but remains under Danish control for defense, foreign policy, and administrative funding.
Around 17,000 Greenlanders live in Denmark itself.
Independence Debate and US Public Opinion
While Greenlandic politicians generally favor eventual independence, they disagree on timing and have stated they would rather stay connected to Denmark than join the United States.
Meanwhile, Trump’s push for the purchase has little support at home: only 17 percent of Americans approve, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, with majorities of both Democrats and Republicans opposing the use of military force. Trump dismissed the survey as “fake.”
As tensions simmer, the question remains: how far will the US go in its attempt to acquire Greenland, and what will this mean for its relations with European allies and the people of Greenland?
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