Greenland protests took place in Nuuk and across Denmark on Saturday, as demonstrators rejected President Donald Trump’s renewed talk of taking over the Arctic island and called for respect for Greenlandic self-determination. Organisers and media reports described large turnouts in both the Greenlandic capital and Copenhagen, where the rally moved from City Hall Square to the USA embassy.
Thousands join Greenland protests in Copenhagen from City Hall Square to the USA embassy
In Copenhagen, the demonstration began at Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square) around midday and later continued towards the USA embassy on Dag Hammarskjölds Allé. Participants carried Greenlandic red-and-white flags (Erfalasorput) alongside Danish flags, and repeated the slogan “Greenland is not for sale”.
Organisers estimated the turnout at around 20,000 people, while police described the event as calm and peaceful, with no arrests reported. Several politicians attended or spoke at the rally, including Copenhagen’s Lord Mayor (overborgmester) Sisse Marie Welling, and representatives from parties across the Danish parliament.
Nuuk march heads to the USA consulate as Jens-Frederik Nielsen joins protesters
In Nuuk, demonstrators gathered with signs in English and Danish stating “Greenland is not for sale” and “Hands off Greenland”, before marching towards the USA consulate. International agencies and Nordic media reported that thousands took part — a significant crowd in a city of roughly 20,000 residents.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen joined the protest carrying the Greenlandic flag. Reports said the crowd held a minute of silence in memory of Greenland’s ancestors, and Nielsen told participants: “We decide our future.” Some protesters also wore Trump-style red caps with a satirical slogan — “Make America Go Away” — echoing the MAGA campaign branding.
Organisers call for unity across Greenland and Denmark
The demonstrations were backed by several Greenlandic and Danish civil-society groups, including Uagut (a Greenlandic association in Denmark), the civic initiative Hands Off Kalaallit Nunaat (Kalaallit Nunaat is Greenland in Greenlandic), and Inuit – Fællesforeningen Inuit (a federation of Greenlandic local associations in Denmark), in cooperation with Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke (an international development NGO). Organisers described the gatherings as peaceful and open to anyone who wanted to show solidarity.
Statements released ahead of the rallies framed the protests as a joint message on democracy, human rights and international law, stressing that Greenland’s future should be decided by Greenlanders. Similar demonstrations were planned in other Danish cities, including Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg, as well as in additional Greenlandic towns.
