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Donald Trump’s second presidency has been defined by lawless, fascist actions at home and imperial ambitions and performative militarism abroad. He has threatened scores of countries while depicting Canada and Greenland as part of the U.S. His obsession with Greenland has caused severe strains between Europe and the United States and even prompted several European nations to send troops to one of the world’s largest islands, which has a population of less than 60,000. For an insight on how the people of Greenland feel about Trump’s takeover attempts, Truthout spoke to Malu Rosing, a Greenlandic activist and Arctic advisor.

C. J. Polychroniou: U.S. President Donald Trump has made it clear that he wants Greenland to be part of the U.S. and said on numerous occasions that this was going to happen one way or another. However, in remarks at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, Trump ruled out using military force after it became clear that major European powers were determined to stand up to Trump’s imperial ambitions for Greenland. Can you share with us how the people of Greenland have reacted to Trump’s takeover attempts and why, under the circumstances, they prefer Denmark over the United States?

Malu Rosing: The ongoing threats of taking over Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) from the U.S. president have long been a headache to Kalaallit — the people of Kalaallit Nunaat.

First, in 2019, where Kalaallit, like the rest of the world, thought it was a by-passing thought — an outrageous claim that was laughed off. Second, in December 2024, where the president-elect stated that he wanted Greenland. This time it was taken more seriously as President-elect Trump had just won the presidential election and the world was looking at four more years with him in one of the most powerful positions in the world. He then followed that up by saying that he could not rule out military or economic force.

Further, Trump’s team, which consisted of a group including his son Donald J. Trump Jr. and the now-deceased Charlie Kirk, attempted an unwelcome and insincere charm offensive, walking around the capital city, Nuuk, handing out MAGA red caps, claiming that the statue of the colonizer Hans Egede and the Colonial Harbor was “where it all started.” To be clear, Inuit have lived in Kalaallit Nunaat for thousands of years, centuries before Hans Egede officially colonized the land in 1721.

Trump Repeatedly Refers to Greenland as Iceland in Speech Vowing Takeover

This blatant insincere approach to the country and its citizens did not go unnoticed by Kalaallit. So, part of the aim was to spread factually wrong statements and push for pro-Trump staged photos from Greenland to make it seem like Kalaallit Nunaat and its people were interested in becoming a part of the U.S.

“Trump’s team … attempted an unwelcome and insincere charm offensive, walking around the capital city, Nuuk, handing out MAGA red caps.”

“Trump’s team … attempted an unwelcome and insincere charm offensive, walking around the capital city, Nuuk, handing out MAGA red caps.”

This is categorically not the case. In fact, Naalakkersuisut, the government of Greenland, has stated time and time again: “We don’t want to be American, we don’t want to be Danish, we are Greenlandic.”

And the population pushed back with soft, yet effective power. Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance planned a visit to Greenland shortly after Trump Jr.’s visit to experience the culture, only to be turned down by every tourist company that was approached to plan their trip. Furthermore, silent........

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