Protests took place in Greenland and Denmark on Saturday following President Donald J. Trump’s announcement that the United States would impose tariffs on several European countries unless a deal is reached for the purchase of Greenland, Reuters reported.

The protests followed Trump’s tariff announcement earlier Saturday, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.

Demonstrations were held in the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk, where residents opposed U.S. efforts to acquire the semi-autonomous territory, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Greenland has a population of approximately 57,000.

The protests followed Trump’s public post earlier Saturday announcing a 10% tariff on goods imported from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland beginning February 1, 2026, with the tariff scheduled to increase to 25% on June 1, 2026, unless a deal is reached for Greenland’s purchase.

Greenland Leadership Addresses Demonstrations

According to Reuters, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen joined demonstrators in Nuuk and addressed the crowd outside the U.S. consulate.

“I’ve come here today because I think it’s important to show that Greenland is not for sale. It is not a toy. This is our home,” Nielsen said.

Greenland governs its domestic affairs under a self-rule system, while Denmark retains authority over foreign policy, defense, and currency.

All political parties represented in Greenland’s parliament support eventual independence, though they differ on timing and have said they would prefer to remain part of Denmark rather than become part of the United States, Reuters reported.

European Officials React

The demonstrations came as European officials responded to Trump’s tariff announcement.

French President Emmanuel Macron criticized the tariff threat and said Europe would respond collectively if the measures were implemented, Reuters reported.

Officials in Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom also issued statements reaffirming Greenland’s status within the Kingdom of Denmark and rejecting the use of tariffs tied to Arctic security cooperation.

Strategic Context

Trump has argued that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security because of its Arctic location and has cited concerns about China and Russia seeking influence in the region. He has said U.S. control of Greenland would strengthen Western security.

As of publication, neither the White House nor the Danish government had issued additional statements responding to the protests.