Thousands of demonstrators across Denmark and Greenland have staged mass protests, defiantly rejecting former President Donald Trump's controversial efforts to acquire the Arctic island of Greenland. The rallies on Saturday 17 January 2026 saw crowds adopt a potent symbol of resistance: a parody of Trump's signature red cap, now reading "Make America Go Away."
‘Now It’s Enough’: A Capital Pun
An estimated 10,000 people gathered at Copenhagen’s City Hall Square, while in Greenland's capital, Nuuk, thousands marched through snow in one of the territory's largest-ever demonstrations. The spoof headwear, which also bears the phrase "Nu det NUUK"—a play on the capital's name meaning "Now it's enough"—has reportedly sold out online in Denmark due to its popularity.
Protesters were seen chanting "Greenland is not for sale" and holding banners declaring "Hands off Greenland." Susanne Kristensen, a protester in Copenhagen, told NBC News: "We have to support Greenland. We are Danes, Greenland are Danes, even though they’re Greenlanders, and we just have to stick together." Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen handling its defence and major funding.
Trump Responds with Tariffs as Fears Grow
The protests coincided with a major escalation from Trump, who announced new 10 percent import tariffs on goods from eight European countries opposing his Greenland plans, set to begin in February. The Financial Times reports the affected bloc is considering retaliatory measures, potentially restricting US companies from its market.
For many in Greenland, a territory of about 57,000 people, the threat feels deeply personal. "I thought this day couldn’t get any worse but it just did," said Malik Dollerup-Scheibel to the Associated Press in Nuuk. "It just shows he has no remorse for any kind of human being now." Some protesters expressed fear of being barred from the US for speaking out, while others, like Kristensen, stated they had no interest in visiting while Trump remains in power.
A Strategic Prize with Little Public Support
Trump has long cited Greenland's strategic location and mineral resources as key to US security, not ruling out the use of military force to acquire it. This stance prompted European nations to deploy military personnel to the island at Denmark's request last week.
However, the ambition finds scant support. All parties in Greenland’s parliament favour independence or remaining with Denmark over joining the US. According to Reuters, only 17 percent of Americans approve of Trump's Greenland mission, with majorities in both parties opposing military action. As one first-time protester, Almond, 57, told NBC: "I’ve actually never done this before, demonstrating, but this is very important to me." The message from the Arctic is clear: enough is Nuuk.
