Greenlanders tell ‘absolutely insane’ Trump what they really think
On the streets of Nuuk, derision of the US president is palpable. A group of boys walking in the snow stop to say “we hate Trump”. One makes the shape of a gun with his hand and pulls the trigger.
Nuuk: The people of Greenland have a simple message for Donald Trump: no deal.
On the streets of their capital, Greenlanders dismiss the US president’s idea of turning their land into an American territory – even if he offers cash.
Ruth Søholm, a retail worker in Nuuk, Greenland, says Donald Trump is “insane” with his talk of taking over Greenland. Credit: David Crowe
“He’s insane, absolutely insane,” says Ruth Søholm, 65, a retail worker in Nuuk.
“We don’t belong to America. We are Inuit. We don’t want to be Americans.”
Trump is trying to blast through every obstacle to achieve his dream of adding the vast Arctic territory to the US, spurning objections from Europe and letting speculation run about using force to get his way.
Loading
“We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not,” he said on Friday. “Because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour.”
In the latest move, White House officials are said to be discussing a payment of up to $US100,000 in cash (about $150,000) to every resident to seal the deal.
In Nuuk, however, derision of the president is palpable. A group of boys walking in the snow say just three words to this reporter: “We hate Trump.” One makes the shape of a gun with his hand and pulls the trigger.
Try as he might, Trump is failing to win the hearts and minds he needs to have any lasting success in Greenland. This former Danish colony, proud of its Inuit heritage, has its own parliament and government. Its people want their say when world leaders argue over their land.
Søholm, speaking to this masthead at a bus stop, says Trump seems to want the land but does not care about the people.
“He should take care of his own people,” she says. “There are so many homeless and so many poor people in America. So why Greenland?”
Around the corner, outside one of the supermarkets, a giant screen displays world news, including the latest remarks on Greenland. This is a remote community, but not an isolated one. Some are worried about the idea that Trump might use force.
