![] A protester holds a sign that reads 'Yes NATO, No Pedo' with a photo of U.S. President Donald Trump with late sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein, on the day of the opening of a new U.S. consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, May 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tim Barsoe Purchase Licensing Rights](https://diasporadigitalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/EE77PYX3SBIGPALCGLXTQTJONY.avif "] A protester holds a sign that reads 'Yes NATO, No Pedo' with a photo of U.S. President Donald Trump with late sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein, on the day of the opening of a new U.S. consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, May 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tim Barsoe Purchase Licensing Rights")
Hundreds of Greenlanders gathered in Nuuk on Thursday to protest the opening of a new U.S. consulate, as tensions continue to grow over President Donald Trump’s push for greater American influence on the Arctic island.
The United States officially moved its diplomatic mission from a small wooden building on the outskirts of the capital to a larger office in downtown Nuuk.
But instead of celebration, the opening drew angry demonstrations and political resistance from local leaders.
Many protesters waved Greenland’s red-and-white flag and carried signs reading “USA, stop it” and “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”
Chants of “No means no” echoed outside the consulate as crowds voiced opposition to any attempt by Washington to tighten its grip on the territory.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and several senior politicians stayed away from the ceremony, saying they had declined invitations to attend.
“We haven’t made a decision in principle, but I won’t participate,” Nielsen told local newspaper Sermitsiaq ahead of the event.
The backlash follows months of controversy sparked by Trump’s comments about bringing Greenland under U.S. control.
Earlier this year, the White House said the administration was exploring options for acquiring the island, including possible military measures comments that alarmed European allies and reignited debate over Greenland’s future.
Although discussions have since shifted toward diplomacy, Greenland’s government has insisted the island is not for sale.
Earlier this week, officials in Nuuk said talks with Washington had made some progress, but stressed that Greenland’s future would be decided solely by its people.
Speaking during Thursday’s opening, U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Kenneth Howery attempted to reassure Greenlanders, saying the United States would remain “allies and partners” regardless of the island’s future path.
Trump has repeatedly described Greenland as strategically important because of its location in the Arctic and its role in countering Russian and Chinese influence in the region.
The U.S. currently operates one active military base on the island, far fewer than the roughly 17 facilities it maintained there after World War II.
