Thousands of Greenlanders marched through the snow and ice of Nuuk on Saturday to protest US President Donald Trump’s renewed threats to acquire the island, chanting 'Greenland is not for sale' as they made their way to the US consulate. The demonstration, described as the largest yet seen in the capital, came as Trump announced a 10% tariff on eight European countries over their opposition to US control of Greenland.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen joined the protesters, who waved the national flag and carried signs denouncing the proposed takeover. Organisers estimated that nearly a quarter of Nuuk’s population took part, with solidarity rallies also held in Copenhagen and in Iqaluit, the capital of Canada’s Nunavut territory.
'I thought this day couldn’t get any worse, but it just did,' said 21-year-old Malik Dollerup-Scheibel upon learning of Trump’s tariff threat. 'It just shows he has no remorse for any kind of human being now.' Marie Pedersen, a 47-year-old Greenlander, brought her children to the rally 'to show them that they’re allowed to speak up. We want to keep our own country and our own culture, and our family safe.' Her nine-year-old daughter Alaska held a homemade sign reading 'Greenland is not for sale'.
Tom Olsen, a police officer in Nuuk, said it was the biggest protest he had ever witnessed. 'I hope it can show him that we stand together in Europe. We are not going down without a fight.' Tillie Martinussen, a former member of Greenland’s parliament, urged the Trump administration to 'abandon this crazy idea', adding that the protest was 'a fight for freedom'. Louise Lennert Olsen, a 40-year-old nurse, directed her message to the American people: 'I would really like them to support our wish to be Greenland as we are now. I hope they will stand against their own president.'
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, citing its strategic location and mineral resources. His latest comments came after the US military operation in Venezuela earlier this month, and he has threatened tariffs on Denmark if it refuses to sell the self-governing territory.
