Danish MEP tells Trump: Greenland is not for sale. Let me put it in words you might understand. Mr. Trump, f–k off!
During a discussion on the policies of the new US administration, a Danish MEP directly addressed Donald Trump. Anders Vistisen stated that Greenland is not for sale. He also used profanity from the podium.
The incident occurred during Tuesday's session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The debate concerned the geopolitical and economic implications for transatlantic relations under the new administration of Donald Trump.
Danish MEP Anders Vistisen took the podium and addressed the new President of the United States directly.
- Dear President Trump, listen very carefully. Greenland has been part of the Danish kingdom for 800 years. It’s an integrated part of our country. It is not for sale. Let me put it in words you might understand. Mr. Trump, f–k off! - said Vistisen in English.
He then continued his speech in Danish. In this part, he targeted not Trump, but the Greenlanders themselves. He called the idea of Greenland's independence "dangerous."
- Dangerous because it is completely unrealistic. No one believes that such a large territory can be maintained by 55,000 Greenlanders - said Vistisen.
- You do not maintain your own sovereignty, your own judiciary, your own police, your own healthcare system, yet you still talk about autonomy. It's not serious and causes a lot of concern throughout the country and the entire Danish kingdom. At the same time, you have used rhetoric against Denmark and the Danes, using everything from colonialism to genocide. This is unacceptable and not in line with reality - added Anders Vistisen.
The Vice President of the European Parliament, who was leading the session, admonished Vistisen for using profanity after his speech. He stated that regardless of how one assesses Donald Trump's policy, such language is not allowed in the chamber.
The words of the Danish MEP are a response to Donald Trump's announcements that the US must take over Greenland. He did not rule out the use of force or economic pressure via tariffs against Denmark. He stated that it is not certain if Denmark has rights to Greenland.
- We are Greenlanders. We don’t want to be Americans - declared Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede on Tuesday. He emphasized that "the future will be decided by Greenland."
