In a bold display of Danish and Greenlandic solidarity, thousands have taken to the streets of Copenhagen to protest against the Trump administration’s attempts to seize control of Greenland. At the forefront of this resistance are the now-iconic red baseball caps bearing the slogan “Make America Go Away” – a playful yet powerful riposte to the US President’s “Make America Great Again” mantra.
The caps, created by Copenhagen vintage clothing store owner Jesper Rabe Tonnesen, have become a symbol of the public’s staunch opposition to any potential US takeover of the autonomous Danish territory. Tonnesen, 58, explained his motivation, stating: “When a delegation from America went up to Greenland, we started to realise this probably wasn’t a joke – it’s not reality TV, it’s actually reality. So I said, OK, what can I do? Can I communicate in a funny way with a good message and unite the Danes to show that Danish people support the people of Greenland?”
The response has been overwhelming, with demand for the caps surging from a trickle to selling out in a single weekend. Tonnesen has now ordered “several thousand” more to meet the public’s growing appetite for this act of defiance.
At a weekend protest in the Danish capital, demonstrators waved the red-and-white flags of Denmark and Greenland, carrying homemade signs mocking the US claims over the territory, which is slightly larger than Saudi Arabia. Slogans such as “No Means No” and “Make America Smart Again” underscored the determination of the Danes and Greenlanders to resist any attempts at annexation.
Kristian Boye, a 49-year-old protester wearing one of the parody caps, encapsulated the sentiment of the gathering, stating: “I’m here to support the Greenlanders, who are going through a very hard time right now. They are being threatened with having their country invaded. I think it’s totally unacceptable.”
The Danish government has rallied behind its autonomous territory, emphasising the need to defend the Arctic region and warning that threats against Greenland undermine Western security. However, the protesters have taken a more direct and defiant approach, using humour and creativity to send a clear message to the Trump administration: Greenland is not for sale, and the Danes and Greenlanders will not go down without a fight.
