US Congressional delegation seeks to reassure Denmark and Greenland after Trump
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation sought Saturday to assure Denmark and Greenland of their support following President Donald Trump’s threat to punish the countries with tariffs if they do not support the U.S. seizing the strategic Arctic island.
Delegation leader Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, said the current rhetoric surrounding Greenland is causing concern throughout the Danish kingdom. He said he wants to de-escalate the situation.
“I hope that the people of the Kingdom of Denmark do not abandon their faith in the American people,” Coons said in Copenhagen, adding that the United States respects Denmark and NATO “for everything we have done together.”
Meanwhile, thousands of people marched through Copenhagen, many carrying the Greenland flag, on Saturday afternoon in support of the self-governing island. Others held signs with slogans such as “Make America smart again” and “Don’t intervene.” Another demonstration was planned in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.
Martin Sylvest Andersen via Getty Images
Coons’ comments contrasted with those emanating from the White House. Trump has tried to justify his calls for a US takeover by repeatedly claiming that China and Russia have their own plans for Greenland, which has vast untapped reserves of critical minerals. The White House does not rule out taking the territory by force.
“There are currently no threats to the security of Greenland,” Coons said.
Trump has insisted for months that the United States should control Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, and said earlier this week that anything less than the Arctic island in US hands would be “unacceptable.”
During an unrelated White House event on rural health care, he recounted on Friday how he had threatened European allies with tariffs on pharmaceuticals.
“Maybe I’ll do the same for Greenland, too,” Trump said. “I can impose a tariff on countries if they don’t agree with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security. So I can do it,” he said.
President Trump:”I can impose a tariff on countries if they don’t agree with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security, so I can do it.” pic.twitter.com/pmSFuVslSE
– CSPAN (@cspan) January 16, 2026
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President Trump: “I can impose tariffs on countries if they don’t agree with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security, so I can do it.” pic.twitter.com/pmSFuVslSE
– CSPAN (@cspan) January 16, 2026
He had not previously mentioned using tariffs to try to force the issue.
Earlier this week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met in Washington with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
That meeting did not resolve the deep differences, but it did produce an agreement to establish a working group, on the purpose of which Denmark and the White House offered markedly divergent public opinions.
European leaders have insisted that it is solely up to Denmark and Greenland to decide on matters related to the territory, and Denmark said this week that it was increasing its military presence in Greenland in cooperation with its allies.
“There is almost no better ally for the United States than Denmark,” Coons said. “If we do things that make Danes question whether they can count on us as a NATO ally, why would another country seek to be our ally or believe our representations?”
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News writer Stefanie Dazio in Berlin contributed to this report.