Danish community reacts to Trump’s rhetoric around Greenland : NPR

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In another volatile week for transatlantic relations, President Trump continues to proclaim that Greenland will be part of the United States in one way or another, despite being part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The leaders of Denmark and Greenland say they want to work with the United States, but will not negotiate on sovereignty. Danish civilians say they experience whiplash, as NPR’s Barbara Sprunt reports.

BARBARA SPRUNT, BYLINE: At the University of Copenhagen, political science student Villads Welling tells me his studies have moved from theoretical to strangely practical as President Trump continues to push to acquire Greenland. He remembers Trump pitching the idea during his first term.

VILLADS WELLING: I think most people in Denmark were just laughing and saying: oh, yeah. Well, he won’t. And he doesn’t even know that you can’t buy another country. That’s not how it works.

SPRUNT: But Trump is doubling down, saying the U.S. needs Greenland for national security, even though it already has military access there. This week he pledged to impose tariffs on European allies until a deal for the United States to get Greenland was reached, then he changed his mind.

WELLING: We realized he wanted to buy Greenland. But he is also ready to threaten us, and he is also ready to act.

SPRUNT: His friend, law student William Bruss (ph), presents Trump’s quest this way.

WILLIAM BRUSS: This gives some imperialist flashbacks. In my head, at least.

SPRUNT: He says he grew up learning about the close alliance between the United States and Denmark and now sees it being disrupted.

BRUSS: He’s our – sort of, our big brother. It is a nation that we have always admired and always felt was someone with whom we shared values. So to see someone speaking in a way that at least makes it seem like they’re willing to give up on that cooperation — it’s shocking.

SPRUNT: Emma Firestone agrees.

EMMA FIRESTONE: We feel like we are collectively experiencing a tragedy.

SPRUNT: She is originally from Boston and is raising a family here in Copenhagen with her Danish husband. She said despite the upheaval, Danes seem to make a distinction between the U.S. government and Americans abroad.

FIRESTONE: Everyone is able to recognize that, you know, they’re not Donald Trump. They are not their administration and do not represent them.

SPRUNT: Mads Just-Olesen is a Dane who went to high school in Iowa.

MADS JUST-OLESEN: I mean, in Denmark we are… everyone is very polite and likes to follow the rules and wait in line. And, you know, the idea of ​​international law is something that people assume will be respected, and it seems very far-fetched to even talk about friendly countries having these kinds of discussions.

SPRUNT: He says Americans should understand that the Danes view the United States as a strong ally, but that is changing.

JUST-OLESEN: Today the conversation in the Danish media, in the workplace and when you talk to people is very much about the fact that it is time for Europe to stand on its own two feet. And I think most Danes are willing to say: OK, we don’t really want to depend on the United States for anything, because it’s just too unpredictable. And it has nothing to do with people, it has everything to do with politics.

SPRUNT: This week, European leaders themselves echoed the need to chart an independent course with less reliance on the United States.

Barbara Sprunt, NPR News, Copenhagen.

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