Protesters wave Greenlandic flags as they participate in a rally below the slogans ‘arms 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 accumulate Greenland.
The gang, waving Greenlandic flags, chanted “Greenland is just not on the market.” Many demonstrators wore crimson hats in Trump’s personal “Make America nice once more” vogue 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 navy presence on the island.
“Someway, we’ll have Greenland,” Trump informed reporters 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 neighborhood. 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: “Individuals: I do know there may be good in you. Come again to sanity.”
“We all know what’s going on within the White Home is just not consultant for all Individuals,” he informed 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, however we combat with what we have now”; and one other with a picture of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker from Star Wars that learn: “Individuals: I do know there may be good in you. Come again to sanity.”
Barbara Sprunt, NPR
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Barbara Sprunt, NPR
However he stated he wonders why there is not extra widespread outrage from the American public.
“I can not perceive. If my authorities stated they’d assault Sweden, then Denmark would step up and protest that,” he stated. “I like protests within the U.S. However why aren’t there extra regular, common Individuals stepping up, making an attempt to protest what’s going on? It is loopy.”
One other protester, Thomas, whom NPR is figuring out solely by his first identify due to considerations about retaliation at work, stated the march represents “an unseen stage of resentment in the direction of the U.S.
“I can’t categorical how deeply disenchanted I’m — that we have now despatched our troops to die with you in Iraq, we have been with you in Afghanistan,” he stated. “How dare you flip your again on us on this approach?”
He stated whereas he thinks Individuals may not imagine that Trump will truly invade Greenland, that is a skepticism that folks within the Kingdom of Denmark cannot afford.
“I do not assume it’ll occur, however we do not know,” he stated. “And that is creating an unprecedented stage of emotional uncertainty and political uncertainty.”
One demonstrator held up an indication that learn: “Trump: Your want for megalomaniac legacy wants 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 stated the march felt intensely private. She and her household are from Greenland.
“We’re right here to point out solidarity, that we don’t want to be part of america,” she informed NPR. “We’re sturdy as we’re, and we’re not fascinated about having something 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 informed reporters that there is no intelligence suggesting that, both.
Rosing stated the concept itself of buying Greenland is offensive to indigenous communities, who she stated respect the land and do not see it as one thing you may personal.
“America has a way of feeling they will steal land from the Native Individuals, steal land from the indigenous Hawaiian folks, steal land from the indigenous Inuit from Alaska,” she stated. “You can’t purchase Greenland, you can’t purchase a folks. It’s so mistaken, disrespectful to assume that you would be able to buy a rustic and a folks.”
Charlotte Holm lives in Copenhagen however has household in Greenland.
“They’re so scared,” she stated. “They’re afraid as a result of they do not know what is going on to occur to their society.”
She stated the message to the U.S. is easy: “Go away them alone. Go deal with the Epstein information, go deal with the midterm elections.”
She stated she hopes Trump will “get obsessive about one thing else” however worries concerning the ripple impact of any doable U.S. encroachment into Greenland.
“It may reshape essentially the world order if he does. NATO’s going to implode,” she stated, echoing comparable feedback from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. “We’d like Americans to name their Republican representatives and inform them we have to handle NATO, as a result of if we go throughout that line, there is no going again. You may’t put the toothpaste again into the tube.”
