Greenland Responds to Trump’s Interest with MAGA Hats and Mixed Reactions

US President-elect Donald Trump's renewed interest in Greenland has sparked mixed reactions among its residents. While some Greenlanders view it positively, others firmly reject the notion of selling the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

Trump, set to assume office on January 20, stated on Monday that US control of the strategically significant Arctic island is an "absolute necessity." At a press conference on Tuesday, he did not dismiss the possibility of employing military or economic measures to achieve this goal.

On the same day, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., made a private visit to Greenland.

Mikael Ludvidsen, a resident of Nuuk, expressed skepticism about Trump’s intentions, telling Reuters: "I think he’s talking too loudly. You can’t take him seriously when he says he’ll take us over by force."

Local resident Niels Nielsen shared a similar sentiment, stating, "I think it’s too much. Greenland cannot be bought."

However, others suggested that forging a partnership with a global superpower could benefit Greenland, home to just 57,000 people. Jens Ostermann, carrying a child bundled against the winter cold, remarked, "We should partner with a great power because Greenland is rich—we have everything here."

Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, has called for calm and unity among residents. He has also reiterated his aspiration for Greenland to eventually achieve full independence from Denmark, its former colonial ruler.

Some locals donned "Make America Great Again" caps to welcome Trump Jr., with the Greenlandic daily Sermitsiaq reporting the visit under the headline: "Warm but reserved welcome for Donald Trump Jr."

Aki-Matilda Hoegh-Dam, a member of Greenland’s social-democratic Siumut party in the Danish parliament, acknowledged the divided opinions among Greenlanders about their country’s future. "Trump’s reaction underscores how crucial Greenland is in the current geopolitical landscape," she said, as quoted by Reuters.