Greenland’s leaders are speaking out as anxiety grows among local residents, fueled by what they describe as repeated misinformation coming from Donald Trump and figures close to him.
Avaaraq Olsen, the mayor of Nuuk Greenland’s capital and home to about 20,000 people has openly acknowledged that fear is spreading throughout the community. She says many residents now feel uneasy even going about ordinary life, worried about what might appear on the horizon next.
In recent remarks, Olsen admitted that she sometimes imagines American warships approaching Greenland’s coast without warning. While she has encouraged others to remain calm, she says it has become increasingly difficult to ignore the emotional toll these threats are taking on ordinary people.
From her office overlooking the fjord, Olsen described a moment that captured the mood perfectly. During a quiet walk along the coastline one evening, she noticed a boat moving through the darkness without lights. The sight briefly made her wonder whether it could be something more ominous. That moment, she said, helped her understand why so many Greenlanders are now scanning the sea and sky with unease.
The mayor has also issued a direct message to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been discussing possible NATO responses to tensions surrounding Greenland. Olsen emphasized that decisions about Greenland should never be made without the involvement of its people.
She stressed that Greenlanders are tired of being spoken about rather than spoken with. Any international planning, she said, must include the voices of those who actually live there.
Although Olsen is usually careful when dealing with the media, she said the seriousness of the situation compelled her to speak openly. According to her, much of the distress stems from claims made by Donald Trump and his allies statements she says are simply not true.
She specifically criticized assertions that Greenland is surrounded by Russian or Chinese ships, calling such remarks deeply harmful. Older residents, she noted, are especially affected because they tend to trust statements made by powerful world leaders, assuming them to be factual.
Olsen also revisited the controversy surrounding Donald Trump Jr.’s visit to Nuuk last January. She described the event as chaotic and misleading, claiming that images circulated online painted a false picture of enthusiastic local support.
According to the mayor, people associated with the visit gathered unemployed men near a shopping area, offered them free meals at an upscale restaurant, and encouraged them to wear MAGA hats. Photos from the event were then used to suggest that Greenlanders warmly welcomed Trump’s team, which Olsen insists was not true.
She also alleged that influencers accompanying the visit handed out $100 bills to children and attempted to enter schools to interview students. These actions, she said, angered many residents and were viewed as highly inappropriate.
Public pushback from Greenlanders eventually led U.S. Vice President JD Vance to cancel plans to visit Nuuk, opting instead to stop at the Pituffik military base, where public interaction could be tightly controlled.
Olsen noted that Greenlanders are generally not quick to protest, making the demonstrations particularly significant. She compared the current atmosphere to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic surreal, uncertain, and emotionally draining.
Despite the fear, she says many people are trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. Humor, she explained, is often how Greenlanders cope during difficult times, even when circumstances feel overwhelming.
Ultimately, Olsen made clear that Greenland’s people do not want to be absorbed by any outside power. They don’t want to be American or Danish they want self-determination and respect.
She expressed cautious hope that upcoming talks involving Greenlandic, Danish, and American leaders could bring clarity, even if the outcome remains uncertain. For now, she said, everything feels unpredictable, changing day by day.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Prime Minister Starmer has been consulting with NATO allies about strengthening military coordination in the Arctic, citing concerns about regional stability. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also stated that the EU is accelerating its efforts to enhance Arctic security.
For many Greenlanders, however, the priority is simpler: being heard, respected, and allowed to live without fear driven by misinformation.
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