OSLO, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Greenlanders marched through the streets of Nuuk on Saturday to protest recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting the Arctic island could be purchased and taken over by the United States, calling the idea unacceptable.
Waving Danish and Greenlandic flags, demonstrators chanted, "Greenland is not for sale," as they made their way to the U.S. consulate in freezing conditions. Local media described it as the largest protest in the island's recent history.
Similar demonstrations were held or planned across Denmark, including in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, and Aalborg, and in Greenlandic cities such as Aasiaat, Qaqortoq, and Ilulissat.
Describing the U.S. bid as "acceptable," former Greenlandic parliament member Doris Jakobsen Jensen stressed that "We don't want to be Americans."
That message was echoed throughout the crowd, where concerns ranged from threats to Greenland's welfare model to fears of losing national identity.
"You can't buy people with money," said Tom Amtoft, a 55-year-old clinic manager and former Danish navy soldier who has lived in Greenland for 20 years. "If we were to become Americans, things we take for granted here -- healthcare, education, the welfare system -- would no longer exist in the same way. That's not something we want."
Amtoft, who grew up during the Cold War, said talk of possible military involvement made him fear for his Greenlandic family and young children. "When Trump started talking about coming to Greenland militarily, even by force, I felt afraid," he said.
Lawyer Jannik Isidor described the atmosphere as emotionally overwhelming yet empowering. "The situation feels uncertain and unnerving," he said. "But today shows unity and solidarity, and that is extremely important."
He echoed a phrase often used by Danish leaders: "You can trade with people, but you cannot trade people."
"Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders," said 76-year-old retiree Knud Erik Kleist, "the idea that the United States wants to buy Greenland is nonsense."
"Whether it's one dollar or one million dollars, I would not accept it," said 34-year-old Nuunu Binzer.
Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. The United States maintains a military base on the island. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland.
Trump has accelerated his push to acquire the island. On Saturday, Trump announced that the United States would impose a 10 percent tariff from Feb. 1 on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland, and raise the levy to 25 percent from the beginning of June unless a deal is reached for the United States to purchase the territory.
The tariff threat has unleashed widespread EU pushback and decry as well as mass protests.
Echoing many European countries, Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel condemned the move as "blackmail." On Sunday, the eight countries issued a joint statement expressing "full solidarity" with Denmark and Greenland.
In a further escalation, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store confirmed on Monday that he had received a letter from Trump in which the U.S. president dismissed any obligation "to think purely of peace" and reaffirmed his desire to control Greenland.
Trump wrote in the letter that "the complete and total control of Greenland by the United States is the only way to ensure global security."
The remarks have intensified a backlash that has been building across Europe in recent days.
The European Union is also weighing a response. EU leaders will hold an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday to address the tensions, European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said Monday. EU economy commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the bloc could renew a pending tariff package or deploy anti-coercion measures.
Despite Greenland's small population, many residents believe their voices matter. Amtoft recalled that protests last year forced U.S. officials to cancel planned visits to Nuuk and Sisimiut, limiting their trip to a U.S. military base.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on Monday reiterated that the latest U.S. statements would not alter Greenland's position on its right to decide its own future. ■
