Greenlanders are furious at Trump and have no desire to be American, but they are not fans of Denmark either, as ITV News Europe Correspondent James Mates reports from Nuuk
Donald Trump does not know the fight he is in for.
That is what Greenlanders have said to us repeatedly in the days we have spent in the capital, Nuuk.
And from what we have seen, they are tough.
It is 9am on Sunday morning, pitch black and minus five degrees. “Feels like minus fifteen,” my weather app says.
And through the darkness at the Colonial Harbour, with the cathedral bells marking the hour, a group of 20 Greenlanders appears, trudging through the snow to the shore.
They are here to swim.
“It’s good for you!” one tells us.
“Today’s weather is perfect!” another adds.
As they make their way back to dry land after spending ten minutes in the freezing waters, the conversation turns to the US president.
“Complete madness,” says one. “What is the point? Those guys can have as many soldiers and bases as they want—there is already a treaty for that.”
We meet Greta, who arrives late, so instead of braving the waves like the rest of the group, she rolls around in the snow—“it gets the blood flowing.”
“You can’t count on that man,” she says. “I just think it’s important for all of Europe to stand together.”
That is a point made to us repeatedly.
Aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening, President Trump said: “Greenland’s defence is two dog sleds. In the meantime, you have Russian and Chinese destroyers and submarines all over the place. We’re not going to let that happen.”
Nivi Rosing is a member of the Inatsisartut, Greenland’s parliament, and she wholeheartedly disagrees.
“We don’t,” she insists. “There are no activities from Russia or China in our waters. There are not.”
But for opposition chairman Pele Broberg, the question isn’t about US control—it’s about Danish control.
“Denmark never can or will protect Greenland. NATO is being dragged into protecting Danish vanity—the desire to keep their territory.”
Trump says Greenland is protected by dog sleds. Ruling parties say there are no Chinese or Russians in Greenland’s waters. And the opposition party says this is all about Denmark.
However, many believe President Trump’s interest in Greenland is actually about none of those things.
It is early morning once again, and we are boarding a boat that takes tourists around the fjords of western Greenland.
Out at sea, there are icebergs and changing landscapes before our eyes.
We are taken to a glacier that once covered the side of a mountain but, in recent years, has been melting away due to rising temperatures.
We can see water running off the top of the glacier, revealing the rock below.
Many say that is what Trump wants access to – Greenland’s mineral wealth, which is suddenly easier to mine because the melting ice is granting easier access to the riches beneath the surface.
Isak Brandt Hansen is the skipper of our boat, and he says he has seen the landscape change even in the past few years.
“I can see why there’s interest in Greenland. To me, it’s a bit offensive. People are worried—especially with what’s happened in Venezuela. It shows that things can change quite quickly.”
The people of Greenland are not taking President Trump’s threats lightly.
If Greenlanders have one thing in common, it is a belief that their island should be a land of tranquillity and peace, even amid the harshness of winter.
All are welcome, they say, to share what Greenland has to offer—to share the intoxicating beauty of the northern lights.
But if you do come, they ask, please come in peace.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
