In a powerful display of defiance, residents of Greenland and Denmark took to the streets over the weekend to protest renewed efforts by United States President Donald Trump to acquire the autonomous Arctic territory. The protests, which drew significant crowds, featured a creative and satirical twist on Trump's iconic campaign symbol.
Satirical Hats and Sizable Crowds
The most striking symbol of the demonstrations was a red hat, deliberately modeled after Trump's "Make America Great Again" cap. However, these protest versions carried a clear counter-message: "Make America Go Away". Another hat featured the Greenlandic phrase "Nu det NUUK", meaning "Enough is enough", a direct reference to Greenland's capital city, Nuuk. Both designs proudly displayed the Greenlandic flag.
These symbolic hats were created by Greenlandic artist Aannguaq Reimer-Johansen as part of a coordinated campaign. The protests mobilized a substantial portion of the population in both locations.
In Nuuk, a city of roughly 20,000 people, reports indicate that nearly one in four residents participated. In the Danish capital, Copenhagen, approximately 10,000 demonstrators marched with placards bearing messages like "Greenland is not for sale" and "Hands off Greenland."
A Unified Voice: "Greenland for Greenlanders"
The core sentiment across the protests was a fierce assertion of self-determination. Protesters in Greenland chanted "Greenland for Greenlanders", emphasizing that the island's political future cannot be decided without the consent of its people.
This feeling was echoed by Danish citizens. Protester Susanne Kristensen highlighted the bond, stating, "We are Danes, Greenland are Danes, even though they're Greenlanders, and we just have to stick together." Another demonstrator, Flemming Almind, told NBC News it was his first protest, underscoring the issue's importance.
The emotional weight was captured by 21-year-old Malik Dollerup-Scheibel from Greenland, who said, "It just shows he has no remorse for any kind of human being now."
Strategic Interests and Public Rejection
President Trump's latest push to acquire Greenland, which followed tariff threats against NATO allies including Denmark, is framed around U.S. national security and the territory's valuable Arctic position and mineral resources.
However, this ambition faces strong opposition. Artist and activist Reimer-Johansen wrote on Facebook, "Greenland is not land to be bought. We, the people, are not something to purchase... It is home. We are people. Not property."
Polling data cited by CNN suggests the sentiment is widespread, with 74% of Americans reportedly opposed to Greenland becoming part of the United States. Greenland, with a majority Inuit population of about 56,000, enjoys broad autonomy while Denmark manages its foreign and defense policy.
The weekend's events made it unequivocally clear that any discussion about Greenland's future must include the voices of its people, who are ready to defend their homeland with both passion and creativity.
