Thousands rallied in Copenhagen on January 17, 2026, to oppose President Trump's renewed calls to acquire Greenland, chanting 'Greenland is not for sale' and waving Greenlandic flags. The demonstration followed Trump's Truth Social post threatening tariffs on eight European nations to pressure Denmark into a sale. Protesters expressed fears over national security rhetoric and its impact on alliances like NATO.
On a chilly Saturday afternoon, January 17, 2026, an estimated thousands of demonstrators gathered in Copenhagen, marching from City Hall to the U.S. embassy to voice opposition to President Donald Trump's persistent interest in purchasing Greenland. Waving Greenlandic flags and donning red hats mimicking Trump's 'Make America Great Again' style—but altered to read 'Make America Go Away'—the crowd chanted slogans like 'Hands off Greenland' and 'Greenland for Greenlanders.'
The protest was spurred by Trump's recent statements, including a comment to reporters aboard Air Force One: 'One way or the other, we're going to have Greenland.' In a Truth Social post that same day, Trump escalated tensions by announcing 10% tariffs on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland, effective February 1. He warned the rate would rise to 25% by June 1 and remain until a 'complete and total purchase' of Greenland, framing it as essential for 'world peace' and U.S. national security amid perceived threats from Russia and China. Trump claimed Denmark's defenses were limited to 'two dogsleds' and noted U.S. efforts to acquire the territory had spanned over 150 years.
Participants highlighted personal and geopolitical concerns. Peder Dam, a Danish resident, carried a Star Wars-themed sign urging Americans to 'come back to sanity' and questioned the lack of U.S. domestic backlash. Thomas, speaking anonymously due to work fears, lamented past alliances: 'How dare you turn your back on us in this way?' after Danish support in Iraq and Afghanistan. Naja Mathilde Rosing, of Greenlandic heritage, rejected Trump's Russia-China claims as a 'red herring' and called the purchase idea 'disrespectful' to indigenous Inuit communities, emphasizing: 'You cannot buy Greenland, you cannot buy a people.'
The rally coincided with a bipartisan U.S. Congressional delegation's visit to Copenhagen, aimed at reassuring Danish and Greenlandic officials of strong ties despite Trump's rhetoric. Protester Charlotte Holm, with family in Greenland, voiced fears of societal upheaval and warned of NATO's potential 'implosion,' echoing Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. She urged Americans to pressure Republicans to prioritize the alliance: 'If we go across that line, there's no going back.' No intelligence supported Trump's encirclement claims, per the delegation.
