Danish politicians, citizens lash out at Trump's reported interest to buy Greenland

Danish politicians and citizens on Friday strongly condemned US President Donald Trump's reported interest in buying Greenland, a self-ruling part of Denmark.

On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that "in meetings, at dinners and in passing conversations, Mr. Trump has asked advisers whether the US can acquire Greenland," the largest island in the world which has been part of Denmark since the early 18th century.

Upon hearing Trump's alleged plan, Soeren Espersen, foreign ministry spokesperson of the right-wing Danish People's party, turned indignant and called the report, if correct, "disgraceful."

"These comments are an insult to the Kingdom of Denmark," said Espersen. "You can't just sell people like slaves anymore. Those days are past!"

Christian Juhl, a member of Danish eco-socialist political party the Red-Green Alliance, also felt angry about Trump's reported interest.

"Greenland is not for sale. The people of Greenland dream of independence not to become an American colony," Juhl said.

"The American bases in Greenland do not pay a single penny to be there. When they arrived they promised jobs to the Greenlanders, jobs to maintain the base to help the people of Greenland but now those jobs are going to people coming from America," Juhl added.

"Trump (is) talking rubbish again," said Danish shop manager Annette Jensen. "He has made people angry, even those that liked him."

"Let him fantasize! Greenland is not for sale," said Taoufik Choukri, a Moroccan-born Danish project director. "It's an autonomous area of Denmark. Denmark provides security to the island and all the resources belong to Greenlanders."

Speaking of the reported interest, a spokesperson of the US Embassy in Denmark said that there were just alleged comments and the embassy, therefore, had "no comment."

The talk of a Greenland purchase came before Trump's scheduled visit to Poland and Denmark from August 31 to September 3.

In 1946, then US President Harry S. Truman tried to buy Greenland from Denmark for US$100 million, but failed, as the Danish government rejected the speculative bid.