Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Danish Politicians Mock Donald Trump's Desire to Buy Greenland From Denmark

Danish Politicians Mock Donald Trump's Desire to Buy Greenland From Denmark
National Archives; Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Seriously?

Greenland is an autonomous country of the Kingdom of Denmark northeast of the Canadian Atlantic provinces between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. President Donald Trump wants to buy it, according to multiple sources.

There's only one small problem—or rather one 836,300 square mile problem—among many. Neither Denmark nor Greenland put out the for sale sign.


Soren Espersen, foreign affairs spokesman for the Danish People's Party, told Danish broadcaster DR:

"If he is truly contemplating this, then this is final proof, that he has gone mad."
"The thought of Denmark selling [over] 50,000 citizens to the United States is completely ridiculous."

The former Danish Prime Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen took to Twitter and posted:

"It has to be an April Fool's joke ... Totally out of season!"

Greenlandic politician, Aaja Chemnitz Larsen—holding one of two seats for her home country in Denmark's parliament—tweeted in Danish:

"No thanks to Trump buying Greenland!"
"On the contrary, a better and more equal partnership with Denmark should be the way forward for a stronger and longer term free Greenland."

Larson added in an interview with Reuters:

"I am sure a majority in Greenland believes it is better to have a relation to Denmark than the United States, in the long term."

"My immediate thought is ‘No, thank you’."

Greenland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs echoed that sentiment on Twitter.

Greenland's government said in an official statement:

"Of course, Greenland is not for sale."
"[We view the reports] as an expression of greater interest in investing in our country and the possibilities we offer."
"Because of the unofficial nature of the news, the government of Greenland has no further comments."

Greenland’s foreign minister Ane Lone Bagger told Reuters:

"We are open for business, but we’re not for sale."

A sentiment echoed by U.S. Senator and presidential candidate, Amy Klobuchar:

The United States former ambassador to Denmark stated it would be a catastrophe.

Much of the anger online is centered around colonialism.

@Sventex/Twitter

Of course diplomats in the manner of their leader, President Trump, responded to such concerns in a fitting manner. Young adult book author Darren Hunter (@darren_hunter1) responded:

"The other option is we can just take it in 5 minutes so watch your mouth tough guy."

Hopefully President Trump handles such concerns more delicately when he visits Copenhagen in September. Michael Aastrup Jensen, a member of the Danish parliament with influential center-right party Venstre said:

"The whole idea that another country could buy Greenland — like it should be a colony — is so strange to us."

Added Martin Lidegaard, chairman of the Danish parliament’s foreign policy committee and former foreign minister:

"The Greenlandic people have their own rights."
"I hope it is a joke—to not just buy a country but also its people."

The President's idea reportedly began with a comment by a guest at a dinner. The guest remarked—without verification—Denmark was struggling to pay the nearly $600 million annual subsidy it gives Greenland and maybe Trump should buy it.

Trump reportedly asked:

"What do you guys think about that? Do you think it would work?"

According to Kulusk, Greenland resident and hotel owner Jakob Ipsen, no.

"Never going to happen. They tried in 1867 without luck. They tried after World War II."

Ipsen added:

“It didn’t happen then and it’s not going to happen now."

So why Greenland? The ice?

The Greenland ice sheet is a vast body of ice covering 660,000 square miles, roughly 80% of the surface of Greenland, although climate scientists note it is melting at an alarming rate. It is still the second largest single body of ice on Earth after the Antarctic ice sheet.

But protecting or utilizing the ice is an unlikely reason. Most pundits wager the idea is more about Trump stamping his name on something as a presidential legacy.

As visions of the Trump Memorial 30 foot Mexican paid for wall become ever more distant, there is not much left for a positive or lasting Trump legacy.

Maybe this could do the trick.

The bestselling book The Ice at the End of the World: An Epic Journey into Greenland's Buried Past and Our Perilous Future is available here.

More from People/donald-trump

Karoline Leavitt and Scott Bessent
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Karoline Leavitt Dragged After Making Mind-Numbing Claim About Trump's Tariffs Reversal

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is getting called out after she attempted to justify President Donald Trump's sudden reversal on his proposed tariffs, telling reporters that his actions make sense because he has a master plan to make the world bend the knee.

Trump declared a full 90-day suspension of all the “reciprocal” tariffs that took effect at midnight April 10—except for those on China—in a dramatic about-face from a president who had long championed his historically high tariff rates as permanent.

Keep ReadingShow less
religion signs
Noah Holm on Unsplash

People Explain What Stopped Them From Going To Church Anymore

There's been a perception of a bit of an exodus from religion for the last several decades. But humanity has gone from no organized religions to oppressive religious regimes to rebellion and back again over the last several millennia.

But is the 21st century when religion finally fails to bounce back?

Keep ReadingShow less
Jojo Siwa; Mickey Rourke
ITV

Mickey Rourke Reprimanded After Indirectly Aiming Anti-Gay Slur At JoJo Siwa On 'Celebrity Big Brother'

Dance Moms dancer, Nickelodeon child star, singer, and reality TV staple Jojo Siwa had a rough few months in 2024 over some problematic comments and behavior.

But 2025 is looking brighter as the public rallies to her defense.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barack and Michelle Obama
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Michelle Obama Expertly Shuts Down Baseless Rumors That She And Barack Are Divorcing

Speaking on Sophia Bush's Work in Progress podcast, former First Lady Michelle Obama addressed rumors that she and her husband, former President Barack Obama, were getting a divorce.

Obama addressed the recent divorce rumors for the first time, while also reflecting on the personal choices she’s made since departing the White House in 2017.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kristi Noem
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Kristi Noem Ripped Over Her Lack Of Gun-Handling Skills While Cosplaying As ICE Agent

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was criticized after she had an ICE officer seemingly dodging her aim after she pointed a gun towards his head while filming a video.

In a 20-second video posted to X on Tuesday, Kristi Noem stands flanked by two Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, brandishing a gun. Wearing a vest marked "ICE," along with dark cargo pants and a cap, Noem addresses the camera while the two agents remain silent beside her—though some X users expressed concern for the safety of one of them.

Keep ReadingShow less