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He will not purchase us’: Inuits in Greenland resist Trump’s ambitions to take control of their country
Qupanuk Olsen is a distinguished Greenland influencer; with over 500,000 TikTok followers and 300,000 Instagram followers, her vibrant videos flaunt life on the Arctic island by exploring local cuisine, culture, language, and traditions.
Recently, her social media posts have taken a political tone, largely due to the influence of Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States.
“When I first heard about the claims of the US President-elect, I didn’t pay much attention. However, when I saw Donald Trump Jr.’s plane flying over the island, I realized that this might be more than just empty statements. But we are not for sale, and he won’t be able to acquire us,” Olsen expressed to Euronews.
On January 7, Trump reiterated his intentions of having the US seize the autonomous Danish territory for “national security reasons” and refused to exclude the possibility of using economic sanctions or military force to achieve his goal. On the same day, his son, Donald Trump Jr., made a “personal day trip” to the island.
Greenland is a reservoir of vital raw materials and rare earths, and environmentalists claim that the melting of the Arctic ice is opening up new strategic opportunities for trade, energy, and transportation in a region where geopolitical competitors are vying for control.
Unfortunately, the people of Greenland are being misinterpreted as supporters of the MAGA movement. Following Donald Trump Jr.’s visit, images of Greenlanders wearing MAGA (Make America Great Again) caps began circulating online. Local media indicated that Trump’s entourage distributed them to homeless people in exchange for a free meal.
“It hurt me to see people being used by Trump; many of them are unaware of the political context,” Olsen shared.
“I had never posted political content before, but with Trump’s recent comments and the flood of questions I received, I felt compelled to address it,” mentioned the former mining engineer turned content creator.
In a recent video addressing the political discourse, Olsen, who advocates for Greenland’s independence, remarked, “To achieve independence, we [Greenland] need to establish economic ties with countries beyond Denmark.” She also expressed her hope that Greenlanders will strengthen connections with the Inuit communities in Canada and Alaska.
According to a survey conducted by the Minority Rights Group, Inuit people comprise nearly 90% of Greenland’s 57,000 inhabitants. Organizations like the Inuit Circumpolar Council, founded in 1977, promote and celebrate the unity of 180,000 Inuit from Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Chukotka in Russia’s Far East.
Is Trump driving a wedge between the Greenlanders and Denmark? Olsen, along with many other Greenlanders, hopes that Trump’s keen interest in Greenland will prompt Denmark to acknowledge the island’s importance.
Thorsten Borring Olesen, a professor of contemporary history at Aarhus University in Denmark, has suggested that “the incoming Trump administration is intentionally creating tension, hoping it will be easier to negotiate with Greenlanders alone rather than with the Danes.”
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has conveyed to Trump that Greenland should be allowed to determine its own future.
In a recent interview with Fox News, US Vice President-elect JD Vance implied that “Denmark has not done enough to protect Greenland” and that “Donald Trump is an adept dealmaker, and I believe there is an opportunity to make a deal involving Greenland.”
During his earlier term, Trump had expressed an interest in purchasing Greenland and even reopened a consulate in Nuuk, the capital of the island, in 2020.
Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953 and presently operates as a self-governing territory. In 2009, a self-rule statute was enacted, granting Greenland the authority to declare independence through a referendum.
A survey conducted in 2019 by the universities of Copenhagen and Greenland revealed that slightly over two-thirds of Greenlanders favored independence from Denmark within the following two decades.
However, achieving independence in reality will be a daunting task.
Greenland largely depends on Denmark to fund its public services and infrastructure, receiving a block grant of around €576 million from Denmark in 2024, which amounts to 53% of the Greenlandic government’s budget.
Josepha Lauth Thomsen, a Greenlander who grew up in Nuuk but now permanently resides in Denmark along with approximately 17,000 other Greenlanders, appreciates the love-hate relationship between Greenland and Denmark. As one of the 13 Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the EU member, Denmark, Greenlanders hold EU citizenship.
“There is a complex relationship between Greenland and Denmark. The criticisms that Danes make about Greenland can be harsh, but hearing someone outside of this dynamic, like Trump, talk about Greenland in that way made me pause and question,” Thomsen, 37, stated to Euronews.
Thomsen works for organizations and charities committed to preserving the island’s heritage and promoting sustainable tourism. With US carrier United Airlines planning to fly non-stop from Nuuk to New York starting in July, Thomsen believes that Greenland will attract more tourists following the heightened attention resulting from Trump’s statements.
However, she has reservations. “I fear that Greenland might experience the ‘Iceland effect.’ There was an onslaught of tourism, with visitors congregating in particular areas and a lack of sustainability in the long run,” she elaborated.
In addition to sustainable tourism, the notion of sustainable industries is being contemplated. In efforts to counter the impacts of climate change, Greenland passed legislation in 2021 that prohibits uranium mining.
Consequently, a Chinese-affiliated Australian mining company has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Greenland for $11.5 billion (€11.2 billion) in lost revenue.
“Contrary to popular belief, Greenland’s economy—apart from fishing—is not very advanced,” Olesen from Aarhus University emphasized. According to official figures, fishing accounted for over 95% of Greenland’s total exports in 2021, amounting to €589 million.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte B. Egede has voiced his opposition to Trump’s pursuit of acquiring the island, affirming that Greenland is a part of the North American continent, which the Americans consider within their realm.
Greenland’s first inhabitants arrived 4,500 years ago, sustaining themselves through hunting and fishing. However, Hans Egede, a Danish-Norwegian missionary who arrived in Greenland in 1721, is credited with putting Greenland on European maps.
Egede, also known as the Apostle of Greenland, established a settlement and fostered relationships with the indigenous Greenlandic Inuit Kalaallit community. Greenland was formally ceded to the Danish crown when Denmark and Norway split in 1814.
Throughout World War II, the United States showed increasing interest in Greenland. With Denmark under German occupation, military outposts were established on Greenland to shield against potential Nazi attacks.
Subsequently, the island emerged as a strategically significant area in the North Atlantic, with Russia and China boosting their military and commercial presence in the Arctic, along with coordinating joint military exercises.
Is there a path to independence? Aaja Chemnitz, one of Greenland’s two MPs in the Danish Parliament, represents the InuitAtaqatigiit party, which champions independence for Greenland.
She believes independence is attainable, albeit not in the near future. Chemnitz also recognizes the value of partnering with the United States. “We have all the key elements for our country and a desire to attract US investments in rare earth extractions,” she highlighted, cautioning that a firm and consistent approach is essential when dealing with Trump.
Chemnitz opines that Europe could play a more significant role in Greenland.
“The EU maintains an office in Nuuk, but it would make sense for Ursula Von der Leyen to visit Greenland again,” Chemnitz added.
European leaders have strongly rebuffed Trump’s comments on Greenland, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warning against jeopardizing “sovereign borders.” Greenland is protected under the North Atlantic Treaty, meaning that any assault on it would prompt other NATO countries to come to its defense, including the United States.
Last March, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen visited Nuuk alongside Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen to inaugurate the Commission’s headquarters there. According to the Commission, Greenland is set to receive €225 million in EU funding for sustainable development, education, and green growth from 2021 to 2027.
And it seems that money could be the linchpin in Greenland’s quest for independence.
“Greenland’s political parties are in favor of independence, though they differ in their timelines. If you are genuinely pushing for this, you might believe that US funding could pave a swift path to independence,” Olesen argued.
The people of Greenland are steadfast in their resistance to being purchased or controlled by external forces. As the world watches with bated breath, Greenlanders are determined to shape their own destiny and safeguard the island’s rich heritage for generations to come.
