Donald Trump, ever since his first term, has been talking about wanting the United States to take over Greenland, presumably by purchase, although he hasn’t exactly ruled out military conquest.
During the presidential transition, Trump started talking about the idea more, alongside his ideas about making Canada the 51st state and retaking the Panama Canal. He even sent his son, Donald Trump, Jr., to Greenland, to talk up the idea of an American takeover of the island.
Despite all of that, Denmark’s leaders are not interested in selling the territory, while Fox News visited the island and got the impression that most people there aren’t especially interested in becoming Americans.
Now, a Danish politician has spoken up on the subject.
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Anders Vistisen, who belongs to the right-wing Patriots for Europe party, denounced the idea of a U.S. takeover of the island this week, in a speech to the European Parliament. Right-wing politicians in Europe are often Trump fans, but less so when it comes to talk of taking over territory.
Greenland is not for sale. Greenland has been part of Denmark for 800 years, more then double of the time the US has existed.
Any true patriot should understand that this is an uacceptable attack on national sovereignty! pic.twitter.com/SlHbR5OGjg
— Anders Vistisen (@AndersVistisen) January 21, 2025
“Dear President Trump, listen very carefully. Greenland has been part of the Danish kingdom for 800 years,“ Vistisen said in the speech, also posted to social media. “Let me put it in words you might understand. Mr. Trump, f— off.”
The language drew a rebuke from Nicolae Stefanuta, vice president of the European Parliament.
Not every politician in that part of the world is giving Trump the cold shoulder, however.
According to Politico’s European vertical, Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte B. Egede is interested in meeting with Trump. Greenland, while controlled by Denmark, has some limited autonomy.
“It is very understandable that people are worried. But the most important thing now is that people remain calm,” Egede said this week. “We must be able to meet and talk about this calmly.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte B. Egede said that his government is working to arrange a meeting with Donald Trump.https://t.co/Pzi5Cxu3qB
— POLITICOEurope (@POLITICOEurope) January 21, 2025
The meeting, however, would likely not be a negotiation, as Egede plans to tell Trump the island is not for sale. That was the message conveyed in a recent call with Trump by Denmark’s prime minister, the report said.
“That’s what we’re working on,” Egede said. “You can’t get around the fact that if they [the U.S.] want to talk about Greenland, they have to talk to Greenland.”
“The Greenlandic people must make it clear what they want to be. We do not want to be Danes. We do not want to be Americans.”
Featured image via Creative Commons and YouTube screengrab
