A recent survey reveals that a vast majority of Greenlanders oppose President Trump’s interest in acquiring the island. The Verian poll, commissioned by Danish newspaper Berlingske and Greenland’s Sermitsiaq, shows that 85% of Greenland’s residents are against joining the U.S. Only 6% support the idea, while 9% are unsure.
The survey also asked how residents feel about Trump’s proposal, with 45% viewing it as a “threat,” 43% seeing it as an “opportunity,” and 13% undecided. Trump has argued that acquiring Greenland is crucial for U.S. national defense, suggesting that Denmark might eventually agree to sell. He even hinted at the possibility of using military force to secure the territory.
However, both Denmark and Greenland’s leaders have firmly stated that the island is not for sale, emphasizing its autonomy. “We don’t want to be Danes. We don’t even want to be Americans. We want to be Greenlanders,” said Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede.
In response to the tensions, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and Danish MP Aaja Chemnitz issued a statement advocating for a future based on partnership rather than ownership. “To ensure our alliance reaches its full potential, Americans must view Greenland as an ally, not an asset,” they wrote.
This week, Denmark also announced a $2 billion security package to enhance Greenland’s defense, which includes new Arctic ships and long-range drones.
The Verian poll, conducted from January 22-26 with 497 participants, had a margin of error ranging from 1.9% to 4.4%.
