A Danish politician launched into an expletive-laden tirade against Donald Trump in an address to the European Parliament on Tuesday, rejecting the US president’s calls for Washington to buy Greenland.
Trump, who was sworn in on Monday, has repeatedly claimed that ownership of Denmark’s mineral-rich Arctic island would be necessary for US national security. A former Danish colony, Greenland was granted home rule by Copenhagen in 1979.
On Tuesday, Anders Vistisen, a member of the Danish People’s Party, took the floor of the EU parliament in Strasbourg.
“Dear President Trump, listen very carefully,” he said in English. “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,” Vistisen continued. “Mr. Trump, f**k off.”
Nicolae Stefanuta, vice-president of the European Parliament, warned Vistisen that his choice of words was unacceptable. “It is not okay in this house of democracy. Regardless of what we think of Mr. Trump, it is not possible to use such language,” Stefanuta said.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Vistisen appeared to moderate his message to Trump. “Mr President, in the Danish People’s Party, we fight for Denmark just as you fight for your country, the USA. Greenland is Danish, it is not for sale – and neither threats nor prayers can change that,” he wrote. “Treat your allies well, and we’ll return the courtesy.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s pro-independence government have ruled out the sale of the self-governing island to the US. Trump originally proposed the purchase of Greenland during his first term in office. In 2019, he cancelled his trip to Denmark after Frederiksen had rejected the idea.
