A no remains a no! Hundreds of Greenlanders protest Trump's ambitions on opening day of US consulate

Hundreds of Greenlanders gathered outside Parliament in the capital Nuuk on Thursday to protest Donald Trump's ambition to increase his influence on the island.

The protest takes place during the visit of the US President's special envoy to Greenland.

“A no remains a no!” This is the message that the demonstrators in Nuuk want to convey to the American people, says the organizer of the demonstration, Aqqalukkuluk Fontain, minutes before the start of the demonstration, according to local media.

“The demonstration is not directed against Donald Trump and his administration because our government said no thank you. The message is for the American people to whom we are sending that Greenland is a democratic country. A no is a no when the majority says so!” says Aqqalukkuluk Fontain.

The protesters marched towards the new consulate building in downtown Nuuk. Here, protesters stood with their backs to the consulate and observed a 2-minute silence to show their displeasure.

The organizer also says that the day of the demonstration was chosen on the same day as the opening of the consulate because there is the greatest chance that Greenland's message will reach the American population.

Greenlandic politicians were largely absent. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen had refused to participate and no minister was present, writes the BBC.

Naaja Nathanielsen, one of two Greenlandic MPs in the Danish parliament, told the BBC that she too declined the invitation. “I think now it's about sending signals,” she said.

Landry had traveled to Nuuk for a business summit but spent little time at the event.

During his three-day trip, Landry met with Nielsen, the current and former secretaries of state, as well as a group of business leaders — as part of an effort to “build connections and friendships.”