Following repeated threats of a US takeover of Greenland, President Donald Trump on Tuesday mocked Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen’s remark that the Arctic island prefers to stay with Denmark, calling it a “big deal”.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday US local time, Trump said he “didn’t agree” with Nielsen and stressed he had “no idea” who he was.
“Big problem for him”
“The prime minister of Greenland said today, ‘We’d rather stay with Denmark,'” Trump was told by a reporter who sought his comment on the remark.
“Who said that?” Trump asked before saying, “Well, that’s their problem. I don’t agree with him. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know anything about him. But it’s going to be a big problem for him.”
Nielsen’s comments came at a press conference in Copenhagen alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, where the Greenlandic prime minister said: “We are now facing a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we will choose Denmark.”
“The United States has reiterated its desire to take over Greenland. This is something that the governing coalition in Greenland cannot accept under any circumstances,” the Arctic island’s government said in a statement.
“As part of the Danish Commonwealth, Greenland is a member of NATO, and the defense of Greenland must therefore take place through NATO,” the statement added.
Trump’s Greenland Plans
Trump and Nielsen’s comments come ahead of an expected meeting on Wednesday between US officials and the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland, which is expected to be attended by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The development also comes days after Trump threatened action against Greenland, claiming his government would have to “do something” about the Arctic island “whether they like it or not.”
Trump justified his ambitions with potential Russian or Chinese aggression.
“We’re going to do something with Greenland whether they like it or not, because if we don’t, Russia or China will take over Greenland — and we won’t have Russia or China as a neighbor. I’d like to make a deal the easy way,” Trump said.
On Tuesday, officials also hinted that action on Greenland could be taken soon.
Thomas Dans, Trump’s Arctic commissioner and a key supporter of the plan, told USA Today: “Things could move express, skip local stops and go straight to Central Station. That’s where President Trump wants to move it — at high speed.”
