Former member of the Greenland parliament, Tillie Martinussen, has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for his remarks about acquiring Greenland, likening his approach to treating her fellow Greenlanders as “sex workers” or a “common prostitute.” Martinussen expressed her indignation at the insinuation that Greenland is “invadable,” stating that such statements are outrageous, insane, and provoke anger among the locals.
Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, has stirred mixed reactions among Greenlanders. While some have downplayed the comments, others, like Martinussen, have vehemently opposed the idea, questioning the real motives behind the U.S.’s strategic interests in the region.
The White House has reiterated that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority for the U.S., with press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasizing that military intervention remains an option. However, the administration has also stated that diplomacy is the preferred approach in addressing any territorial concerns.
Greenland’s Nuuk Mayor, Avaaraq Olsen, highlighted that the Greenlandic people strongly oppose any attempts to take over their land, emphasizing their desire for autonomy and independence. Similarly, Sara Olsvig of the Inuit Circumpolar Council underscored that Greenlanders have no intentions of being assimilated by foreign powers, having experienced the negative impacts of colonization in the past.
Opposition leader Pele Broberg emphasized the importance of engaging in direct negotiations with the U.S. administration to address concerns about Greenland’s future. Broberg emphasized the need for constructive dialogue rather than sensationalized media reports and urged for a pragmatic approach to finding common ground between Greenland’s aspirations for independence and the U.S.’s security interests.
Juno Berthelsen, another member of Greenland’s opposition party, dismissed concerns about U.S. annexation, citing the longstanding security partnership between Greenland and the U.S. Berthelsen emphasized the strategic importance of U.S. military presence in Greenland for regional security against potential threats from Russia and China, downplaying fears of any imminent takeover.