In a powerful display of national pride and defiance, nearly ten percent of Greenland's entire population took to the streets of its capital, Nuuk, to send a clear message to former US President Donald Trump: their homeland is not for sale.
A Capital United in Defiance
The mass protest, which saw around a quarter of Nuuk's 20,000 residents gather, was a direct response to Trump's renewed threats to acquire the vast, mineral-rich Danish territory. The demonstration coincided with Trump's announcement that he would impose punishing tariffs on several European nations, including the United Kingdom, to pressure Denmark into a sale.
Protesters, many holding homemade signs and waving Greenland's national flag, voiced their anger and determination. Marie Pedersen, 47, brought her children to the march to teach them the importance of speaking up. "We want to keep our own country and our own culture, and our family safe," she said. Her nine-year-old daughter, Alaska, held a placard reading 'Greenland is not for sale'.
The sentiment was echoed by 21-year-old resident Malik Dollerup-Scheibel, who reacted to the tariff news with dismay: "I thought this day couldn't get any worse, but it just did. It just shows he has no remorse for any kind of human being now."
Trump's Tariff Ultimatum and European Backlash
In a detailed post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, January 17, 2026, Trump declared that Denmark, the UK, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland would face a 10% tariff on all goods sent to the United States from February 1, 2026. He warned this would rise to 25% from June 1 until a deal was reached for Washington to purchase Greenland.
Trump justified the move by claiming the US had "subsidized" these nations for years and that acquiring Greenland was crucial for US national security and a mysterious "Golden Dome" defence system. "World Peace is at stake!" he wrote.
The threat has sparked immediate and fierce backlash from European leaders. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer labelled the move "completely wrong," pledging to pursue the matter directly with the US administration. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated the UK's position on Greenland was "non-negotiable."
In a joint statement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said the tariffs would "undermine transatlantic relations" and stressed that "territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law."
Greenland's Stance: Autonomy Over Economics
Despite the potential for severe economic damage from the tariffs, Greenlanders and their representatives remained resolute. Tillie Martinussen, a former member of Greenland's parliament, argued that standing up for NATO and Greenland's autonomy was more critical than economic pressure.
"This is a fight for freedom," she said. "It's for NATO, it's for everything the western Hemisphere has been fighting for since world war two."
The Danish foreign minister expressed surprise at Trump's announcement, noting a constructive meeting had been held with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio just days earlier. In response to Trump's warnings about Arctic security, Denmark has deployed additional European troops to Greenland.
The controversy has even spilled into discussions about the UK's diplomatic calendar, with Conservative MP Simon Hoare calling for the cancellation of King Charles's upcoming state visit to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence, branding Trump a "gangster pirate."
As the February 1 tariff deadline looms, the people of Greenland have made their collective voice heard, setting the stage for a significant geopolitical standoff centred on their frozen, sovereign land.
