Mass Protests Erupt in Greenland Against Trump’s Plans to Acquire the Island

On March 15, 2025, over a thousand Greenlanders took to the streets in a powerful demonstration against U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to acquire the island. Protests unfolded in the capital city of Nuuk and the second-largest city, Sisimiut, where participants voiced their staunch opposition to the idea of Greenland becoming part of the United States.

Demonstrators waved national flags and held up signs with messages that underscored their commitment to sovereignty and independence. Slogans such as “Respect Greenland’s sovereignty,” “We are not for sale,” “Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people,” and “Yankee, go home” resonated with the crowd, echoing sentiments reminiscent of protests against U.S. military presence in the past. One particularly striking sign read “99% say no,” using the island’s icy landscape as a metaphor for rejecting U.S. claims.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the center-right “Democrats” party, took to social media to affirm the protesters’ sentiments, stating, “Our country. Our choice. Our freedom.” At a rally outside the American consulate, he firmly dismissed any possibility of negotiations regarding Greenland’s accession to the United States, declaring, “Greenland will remain Greenland.”

Outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede echoed this sentiment, labeling Trump’s proposal as “completely unacceptable.” He emphasized the importance of allowing the people of Greenland to determine their own future.

As an autonomous territory within the Danish realm, Greenland is governed by a local administration led by a prime minister who oversees internal affairs. However, foreign policy, defense, and finance remain under the jurisdiction of Copenhagen. Since 2009, Greenland has had the right to declare independence via a referendum, making any external claims to its territory particularly sensitive for its residents.

Trump’s controversial remarks on January 7, in which he suggested the potential use of “military or economic coercion” to secure Greenland, have ignited outrage both on the island and globally. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously defended Washington’s interest in Greenland, citing the need to counter China’s growing influence in the Arctic and suggesting that Denmark lacks the capability to manage this challenge effectively.

In his annual State of the Union address earlier in March, Trump reiterated that the U.S. would support Greenland’s right to self-determination, but only if its population expressed a desire to join the United States. However, the recent parliamentary elections held on March 12 revealed a strong opposition to Trump’s plans, with the Democrats securing 29.9% of the vote, indicating that the idea of joining the U.S. lacks support among the Greenlandic people.