Danish politician Anders Vistisen didn't hold back when he sent a public message to US President Donald Trump this week about his proposal to make Greenland part of the United States.
“Dear President Trump, listen very carefully,” Vistisen said Tuesday in the European Parliament. “Greenland has been part of the Danish kingdom for 800 years. It is an integrated part of our country. “It is not for sale.”
Vistisen continued to use some bad language which caused him problems with the rest of the European Parliament.
“Let me put it in words you can understand,” he said. “Mr. Trump, fuck you!”
Nicolae Stefanuta, vice president of the European Parliament, intervened and told Vistisen that the language was not acceptable.
“If the translation was correct, the term you used is not allowed in this house and there will be consequences for the message you used,” Stefanuta said. “It is not right in this house of democracy. Thank you. Whatever we think of Mr. Trump, that language cannot be used.”
Vistisen doubled down on his statement and posted his message. in X, writing“Greenland is not for sale. Greenland has been part of Denmark for 800 years, more than twice as long as the United States has existed. Any true patriot should understand that this is an unacceptable attack on national sovereignty!
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He later claimed that the European Parliament had threatened to fine him for using bad language.
“Fines if you tell the truth about foreigners and crime! Fines if you tell the truth about Greenlanders! Fines if you tell the truth to Trump! wrote in X.
Reporters asked Trump about Greenland after he took office on Monday. “Greenland is a wonderful place, we need it for international security,” Trump responded. “I'm sure Denmark will agree; it's costing them a lot of money to keep it, to keep it.”
On Tuesday, Greenland Prime Minister Mute B. Egede addressed Trump's comments about the territory.
“We are Greenlanders. We don't want to be Americans. We don't want to be Danish either. The future of Greenland will be decided by Greenland. “Our country and our people will decide what happens to Greenland.”
Earlier this month, Trump said he would not rule out using force or economic pressure to make Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, part of the United States. Trump said it was a matter of national security for the US.
“We need Greenland for national security reasons,” Trump told reporters on January 7.
Greenland, home to a large US military base, is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a former US ally and founding member of NATO. Trump cast doubt on the legitimacy of Denmark's claim to Greenland.
Referring to Trump's comments in an interview with Danish broadcaster TV2, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called Denmark the “most important and closest ally” of the United States and said she did not believe the United States would use its military or economic power to ensure control over Greenland. .
Frederiksen repeated that he appreciated the United States taking more interest in the Arctic region, but that “it would have to be done in a way that was respectful of the Greenlandic people,” he said.
“At the same time, it must be done in a way that allows Denmark and the United States to continue cooperating, among other things, in NATO,” Frederiksen said.
Trump initially expressed interest in Greenland in 2019 during his first term. He said Greenland was “harming Denmark a lot” and costing it $700 million a year. His solution was for the United States to acquire Greenland, calling it “a big real estate deal.”
—With files from The Associated Press
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