Greenlanders respond to Trump: ‘We cannot simply be taken’
The people of Greenland have been waking up today to the news that, yet again, the President of the U.S. has called for the annexation of their country. The nation’s Prime Minister Múte B. Egede has strongly rejected Donald Trump’s claim that the U.S. will acquire Greenland “one way or another,” following the president’s speech to a joint session of Congress yesterday.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Egede dismissed Trump’s comments outright, making it clear that Greenland’s future is not up for negotiation.
“Kalaallit Nunaat is ours. We do not want to be Americans, nor Danes; we are Kalaallit. The Americans and their leader must understand this. We are not for sale and cannot simply be taken. Our future is decided by us in Greenland,” he wrote.
Egede’s response comes after Trump reiterated his interest in Greenland, calling the island strategically vital and claiming that the U.S. would eventually bring it under its control.
Greenlandic leaders turn to Europe
Egede’s statement has been echoed by members of Greenland’s parliament, who reacted strongly to Trump’s speech. According to Danish state broadcaster DR, Pipaluk Lynge-Rasmussen of the IA party warned that Greenlanders should take Trump’s words seriously.
“We must ensure and strengthen our cooperation with Europe,” she said, arguing that Greenland should look to its European partners to safeguard its autonomy.
She also rejected Trump’s assertion that Greenland will eventually become part of the U.S., questioning what steps he might take to try and achieve that.
“It is difficult to imagine what means of power Trump would use to get his hands on Greenland,” she said. “But I will use all my strength to ensure that we do not become part of the United States.”
Greenland’s Finance Minister on Trump: ‘completely unacceptable view on humanity’
Adding to the growing backlash, Greenland’s Finance Minister Erik Jensen, who is also the leader of the governing Siumut party, expressed fury over Trump’s speech to DR.
Jensen took particular issue with the laughter heard in the U.S. Congress when Trump referred to Greenlanders as “incredible people”.
“It is terrible to see the view of people that is expressed in that speech,” he said. “Even the Vice President is laughing. It shows that they have a completely unacceptable view on humanity.”
Jensen repeated—like other Greenlandic politicians—that Greenland is not for sale, and that Greenlanders want to remain neither American nor Danish, but simply Greenlandic.
“It is very unfortunate that Trump continues with this. It shows a lack of respect for the Greenlandic people and democracy. I think it is terrible,” he said.
Anger among ordinary Greenlanders
Trump’s statement has also drawn strong reactions from ordinary Greenlanders, with Palle Sandgreen from Nuuk, expressing his anger about Trump’s remarks.
“He’s just an idiot, plain and simple,” Sandgree told DR. “He thinks he can buy a country. He can’t.”
When asked about Trump’s belief that Greenland will become American one way or another, Sandgreen had a brief but clear response.
“Keep on dreaming, that’s all I have to say.”
A different perspective from Naleraq
While the Prime Minister has outright rejected Trump’s words, Kuno Fencker of the Naleraq party chose to focus instead on Trump’s mention of self-determination.
“We base our position on Greenland’s right to self-determination. And that is what we are pursuing. We are willing to cooperate with both Denmark, the U.S., and the EU,” he said.
Fencker also called for activating Article 21, which would allow Greenland to move toward full independence from Denmark.
“This is not something the U.S. or Denmark should interfere in,” he added.
