Trump’s ‘poorly run piece of ice’ comment draws criticism from Greenlandic and Danish politicians
Several Greenlandic lawmakers and Danish officials have responded to U.S. President Donald Trump after he once again disparaged Greenland on social media, calling it a “poorly run piece of ice” and tying his interest in the territory to frustration with NATO.
Acting Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen told TV2 that Trump has not given up his ambitions regarding Greenland. He acknowledged the remarks were unpleasant but said he would hold back.
“I have no interest in escalating the situation by saying what I honestly think,” he told TV2.
The head of Naalakkersuisut, Greenland’s government, has confirmed that diplomatic negotiations between Greenland, Denmark and the U.S. are still ongoing.
Naaja H. Nathanielsen, a sitting member of the Danish Parliament representing the Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) party, described the president’s words as deliberately provocative.
“Words can hurt, wound, and provoke anger. We feel that when our country is referred to as a ‘poorly run piece of ice’ by the American president,” she wrote on Facebook.
She reaffirmed that Greenland is a well-functioning democracy with its own culture and respect for international law.
“We will not be intimidated and will not accept being talked down to,” she wrote.
Former Greenlandic member of the Danish parliament Aaja Chemnitz, also of IA, took to Facebook with a sharper tone.
“It is truly incredible tyranny that we are expected to put up with from Trump,” she wrote. “To call our land a ‘poorly run piece of ice’ shows the lack of respect he has for our country.”
Chemnitz warned that Trump appears to be using Greenland as a pretext for pulling the U.S. out of NATO and called on the alliance to act.
“Respect is earned and it takes time to build. NATO must now show whether there is any solidarity and respect left, for itself and for our country,” she wrote on Facebook.
Trump has recently suggested that NATO should have helped the U.S. acquire Greenland. Greenlandic leaders have consistently rejected any notion of becoming part of the United States.
