Story perspectives

Greenlanders Protest Trump’s Greenland Acquisition Interest

1/26/2026

Summary

Trump's Greenland Betrayal

U.S. President Donald Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland has drawn attention to the world’s largest island, which is largely ice-covered and tied to Denmark.
Greenlanders, including Tillie Martinussen, a former member of parliament, say they love the United States but feel betrayed by Trump’s rhetoric, prompting protests around banners such as "Make America Go Away."
Martinussen notes Greenland’s strong community values and contrasts them with Western individualism.

History

Historical Context

In 1867, the United States acquired Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, a deal orchestrated by Secretary of State William Seward. This purchase, initially criticized as "Seward's Folly," expanded U.S. territory and raised questions about indigenous land rights, as local groups like the Tlingit claimed they had not ceded their land. The implications of this acquisition continue to influence U.S. foreign relations and territorial governance today.

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Trump's Greenland Betrayal

U.S. President Donald Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland has drawn attention to the world’s largest island, which is largely ice-covered and tied to Denmark.
Greenlanders, including Tillie Martinussen, a former member of parliament, say they love the United States but feel betrayed by Trump’s rhetoric, prompting protests around banners such as "Make America Go Away."
Martinussen notes Greenland’s strong community values and contrasts them with Western individualism.

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