“Greenland is not for sale.” Thousands of people protested in Copenhagen and Nuuk against Trump's plans – VIDEO/PHOTO
Several thousand people gathered in Copenhagen and other cities in Denmark on Saturday to denounce the territorial ambitions of US President Donald Trump, who continues to express his intention to take over Greenland. And in Nuuk, the capital of this autonomous Danish territory, several thousand other people demonstrated under the slogan “Greenland is not for sale”.
Protesters, carrying Greenlandic and Danish flags, gathered in Copenhagen's City Hall Square on Saturday afternoon, chanting the name of Greenland in Greenlandic: “Kalaallit Nunaat!”, reported Agence France Presse journalists on the scene.
BREAKING
Large protest in Copenhagen against Trump's threats to seize Greenlandpic.twitter.com/Uj4wpeT87h
ā Omar Nor (@Omaarnor) January 17, 2026
“USA already has too much ICE”
On the placards carried by the demonstrators could be read messages such as “Make America Go Away”, an allusion to the slogan MAGA (Make America Great Again), and “USA already has too much ice”, another play on words, alluding to the tensions in the United States caused by the actions of the agents of the American Immigration Service (ICE).
Several Danish political figures, including the mayor of Copenhagen and a minister, marched alongside the demonstrators, reports AFP.
In front of the United States embassy in the Danish capital, several organizers took turns on a makeshift stage, singing and chanting slogans such as “Greenland is not for sale”, while expressing the hope that the American embassy would notice this powerful mobilization.
Other demonstrations took place at the same time in Denmark, in Aarhus (centre), Aalborg (north) and Odense (south).
Demonstration under the slogan “Greenland is not for sale” also in Nuuk
A few hours away, thousands of demonstrators, including Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, also gathered in the center of Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, on Saturday to denounce the territorial ambitions of Donald Trump, who continues to display his desire to seize the vast Danish autonomous territory.
Under a light rain, protesters in Nuuk – including the head of the government, perched on a pile of snow and waving the Greenlandic flag – wearing caps with the inscription “Make America Go Away” (“Make America Go Away”, a parody of the MAGA slogan), swayed to the rhythm of traditional Inuit songs, observed an Agence France Presse journalist present at the scene.
Premier of Greenland š¬š± arrives at the demonstration.
January 17, 2026 pic.twitter.com/ovmjMRhR0z
ā Orla Joelsen (@OJoelsen) January 17, 2026
Since returning to the White House a year ago, Trump has repeatedly expressed his intention to seize control of Denmark's vast, strategically important but sparsely populated Arctic island. He stated that he will conquer it “one way or another”, in order to counter, according to him, the Russian and Chinese advances in the Arctic, notes Agerpres.
On Friday evening, his close adviser Stephen Miller reaffirmed the position of the White House regarding this territory.
“Greenland is a quarter of the size of America. Denmark, with all due respect, is a small country with a small economy and a small military. It cannot defend Greenland,” he told Fox News.
During a press conference held in Copenhagen on Saturday, a delegation of eleven Democratic and Republican congressmen reaffirmed their opposition to US President Donald Trump's desire to control the Arctic island, reports dpa.
“Greenland is part of Denmark. Denmark is our NATO ally,” said Democratic Senator Chris Coons.
“In my opinion, this should be the end of this discussion,” he added.
The 11 congressmen who traveled to Denmark tried to make it clear that Trump's plans will also face resistance in the US. The group included only two representatives of Trump's Republican Party.
