Protests in Copenhagen against Trump and Greenland ambitions

Thousands rally in the Danish capital against Donald Trump’s territorial claims on Greenland as a bipartisan U.S. delegation seeks to reassure Denmark and Greenlandic authorities

Protests in Copenhagen against Trump and Greenland ambitions took place on Saturday, January 17, as several thousand demonstrators gathered in the Danish capital to oppose U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated statements about taking control of Greenland.

Under a gray, foggy sky, protesters filled City Hall Square waving Greenlandic and Danish flags, creating a sea of red and white at the heart of Copenhagen. Chants echoed through the square as demonstrators repeatedly shouted “Kalaallit Nunaat!”, the name of Greenland in the Greenlandic language, underscoring opposition to any attempt at annexation.

The protests in Copenhagen against Trump and Greenland ambitions unfolded as a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Congress was also in the city on an official visit aimed at reassuring both the Danish government and Greenlandic authorities. The lawmakers sought to distance Congress and the broader American public from Trump’s expansionist rhetoric in the Arctic.

“It’s important to point out that when you ask Americans whether they think it’s a good idea for the United States to acquire Greenland, a strong majority — about 75 percent — say they do not think it’s a good idea,” Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said during a press conference at the Danish Parliament. She added that “Congress also has a role to play,” signaling institutional resistance to the president’s position.

The protests in Copenhagen against Trump and Greenland ambitions highlight growing diplomatic and political tensions surrounding Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. While Trump continues to frame the Arctic island as strategically vital for U.S. interests, demonstrators and visiting U.S. lawmakers alike emphasized respect for sovereignty and the clear lack of public support for such claims on both sides of the Atlantic.

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