Since his first term, Donald Trump has been making noises about the United States trying to acquire Greenland. Throughout that time, Denmark, which currently controls the island, has made it clear that they’re not interested in selling the territory.
During the presidential transition, Trump has been talking more about wanting an American takeover of Greenland, along with “plans” about retaking the Panama Canal and making Canada the 51st state. Trump went so far as to send his son, Donald Trump, Jr., to Greenland last week to create the impression that their population would welcome an American takeover of the island.
However, there are indications that Greenland is not interested in such a change.
WOW! Fox News is on the ground in Greenland and most of the people they’ve interviewed do not want to join the US.
Where did Trump and Don Jr get the idea that most people in Greenland are MAGA? pic.twitter.com/DPgSxiiv6m
— Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) January 14, 2025
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Fox News this week sent a reporter to Nuuk, Greenland, to see where public opinion is.
One man answered, “I hate it,” while another said, “I want to stick with the Danish government.” The reporter added that most people they talked to did not want a U.S. takeover and found Trump’s comments “offensive.”
Those are, however, a small sample size. Where is public opinion on the question?
It doesn’t appear that there has been any conventional scientific polling of Greenland residents about whether or not they want the U.S. to take over the territory. But CNN cited interviews by Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa (KNR), which has been convassing the population.
“I see Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland as very dangerous,” Greenlander Jens Danielse told KNR. “We are so few inhabitants, under 100,000, that I fear that our language would disappear very quickly, so I (would) prefer to stay under Denmark because the relationship between Greenlanders and Danes works well as it is.”
Others were more positive about the idea.
🇬🇱 Greenland Poll Independence From Denmark
🔴 Independence 68% (+36)
🔵 Stay Denmark 32%University Of Copenhagen Poll pic.twitter.com/Hf8uUp8ldv
— OSZ (@OpenSourceZone) January 12, 2025
“Everything is just getting more and more expensive here. Goods from Denmark are extremely expensive, so of course the USA seems more attractive,” cleaning assistant Karen Kielsen said in the survey.
Greenland, which has limited autonomy, also has an independence movement aiming for a possible referendum. The Dispatch, this week, wrote an op-ed endorsing independence. One recent poll found more than 65 percent support for independence in Greenland.
Featured image via screengrab
