Denmark and Finland Urge Caution for US-bound Transgender People

THE GUARDIAN: Travel advice updated amid reports of ordeals at US border after Trump said country would only recognise two genders

Denmark and Finland have updated their US travel advice for transgender people, joining the handful of European countries that have sought to caution US-bound travellers in recent weeks as reports emerge of ordeals at the American border.

Denmark said this week it had begun advising transgender travellers to contact the US embassy in Copenhagen before departure to ensure there would be no issues with travel documents.

The change came after Donald Trump made a priority of rolling back trans and non-binary rights, announcing that the US would only recognise two genders and signing off on executive orders that sought to exclude transgender people from the US military, limit their access to sport and curtail gender-transition procedures for people under the age of 19.

The Danish foreign ministry made no mention of Trump but noted that the application form for the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization allows travellers to choose only male or female. Danish law, in contrast, allows citizens to identify their gender as X. » | Ashifa Kassam | Friday, March 21, 2025

Ursula von der Leyen's Urgent Call: Europe Must Prepare for War to Secure Peace! Historic Speech

Mar 18, 2025 | In a powerful address at the Royal Danish Military Academy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the pressing need for Europe to bolster its defense capabilities. Highlighting the resurgence of global threats and the end of the "peace dividend" era, she declared, "If Europe wants to avoid war, Europe must get ready for war." Von der Leyen outlined the 'Readiness 2030' roadmap, aiming for a robust European defense posture by 2030, with increased defense spending, joint procurement initiatives, and strengthened support for Ukraine. She stressed the importance of a united and prepared Europe to deter aggression and maintain sovereignty.

Danish MEP Explains Why He Advised Trump to "F*** Off" | Anders Vistisen

Mar 11, 2025 | All eyes are on Greenland as a decisive election approaches. Greenland, the world’s largest island, strategically located exactly in the middle between Russia and the United States remains a self-governing territory of Denmark. As Greenland holds parliamentary elections on March 11, the island’s future is at stake. Will it push for independence, amid Donald Trump’s interests? Let’s get the Danish perspective on the matter with Danish MEP from the Patriots for Europe Group Anders Vistisen.

It is to be hoped that Greenlanders choose to stay with Denmark. To reject Denmark in favour of the USA would be very unwise indeed. The whole world can observe how shabbily people are treated in the USA. In the USA, if you don’t have billions, you are treated as expendable trash. My advice to Greenlanders is this: Stick with Denmark, stick with the refined and civilised Danes! – © Mark Alexander

Danish PM Mette Frederiksen Speaks about Ukraine

Mar 1, 2025 | On the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the "Support Ukraine" plenary session was held in Kyiv under the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. More than 40 heads of state and government, as well as heads of European Union institutions and international organizations, took part in it both in person and online.

But it was Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen who had the best speech.

Thousands of Danes Sign Petition to Buy California from U.S.

KTLA 5: In response to President Donald Trump’s continued musing about the U.S. acquiring Greenland from Denmark, Danish citizens have launched their own effort to purchase America’s most economically prosperous state.

An online petition seeking the “Denmarkification” of California has seemingly garnered nearly 200,000 signatures, with a pitch to Danish citizens that purchasing the Golden State would provide them with more sunshine, dominance in the tech industry, limitless avocado toast and easy access to Disneyland — which organizers say would be renamed to honor fairytale author and poet Hans Christian Andersen.

“Have you ever looked at a map and thought, ‘You know what Denmark needs? More sunshine, palm trees, and roller skates.’ Well, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make that dream a reality,” petition organizers write on the online page.

Danes who sign the petition are encouraged to chip in for the fundraising goal of $1 trillion (give or take), which organizers say would cost every citizen of the Scandinavian nation approximately 200,000 DKK — or roughly $28,000. » | Travis Schlepp | Monday, February 10, 2025

Greenland’s leader says his people don’t want to be Americans as Trump covets territory »

Nearly Half of Danes See US as Threat and 78% Oppose Greenland Sale, Poll Shows

THE GUARDIAN: Exclusive: More Danish people regard US as a threat than see North Korea or Iran as danger

Almost half of Danish people now consider the US to be a considerable threat to their country and the overwhelming majority oppose Greenland leaving to become part of the US, new polling has found.

The research by YouGov, shared exclusively with the Guardian, comes after weeks of tension between Denmark, Greenland and the US over Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that he plans to take control of the autonomous territory, which is part of the Danish kingdom.

The Arctic island, which has a population of 57,000 people, was formerly ruled as a colony by Denmark, which continues to control its foreign and security policy. Trump’s interest in Greenland comes at a time of growing momentum for its pre-existing independence movement.

The poll of just over 1,000 people in Denmark, conducted between 15 and 22 January, found that 46% considered the US to be either “a very big threat” or “a fairly big threat” to Denmark. » | Miranda Bryant, Nordic correspondent | Friday, January 31, 2025

Trump needs to keep his sticky maulers off Greenland. If the Americans annexed Greenland, they’d soon naff it up! No doubt the conman has his sights on real estate deals and real estate development. He probably wants to build a glitzy, naff Trump tower there. The EU needs to grow a pair and tell Trump exactly where to get off. – © Mark Alexander

Denmark Prepares for Possible Invasion by USA

Jan 28, 2025 | MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on steps being taken by Denmark and the European Union to protect against a possible invasion by American forces after Trump said he is not ruling out taking Greenland by military force.

Trump is a chump! And his henchmen are chumps, too. To hell with Trump, and to hell with the USA, too! – © Mark Alexander

THE GUARDIAN:

Olaf Scholz says borders ‘must not be moved by force’ after Trump Greenland comments: German chancellor speaks alongside Mette Frederiksen as Danish leader calls for greater cooperation in Europe »

Trump's Greenland 'Grab' - A British Problem

Jan 27, 2025 | President Trump's announcement that Denmark must transfer sovereignty over Greenland to the US has caused a transatlantic diplomat[ic] spat which has just become more complicated when Denmark revealed a 1917 agreement made with Britain concerning Greenland's future. Find out the story behind American attempts to obtain Greenland, and how British involvement may complicate President Trump's new plan.

Trump Again Demands to Buy Greenland in ‘Horrendous’ Call with Danish PM

THE GUARDIAN: Source says: ‘The Danes are in crisis mode’ after US president’s call with prime minister Mette Frederiksen

Donald Trump had a fiery phone call with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen over his demands to buy Greenland, according to senior European officials.

Speaking to the Financial Times, officials said that Trump, then still president-elect, spoke with Frederiksen for 45 minutes last week, during which he was described to be aggressive and confrontational about Frederiksen’s refusal to sell Greenland to the US.

The Financial Times reports that according to five current and former senior European officials who were briefed on the call, the conversation “was horrendous”. One person said: “He was very firm. It was a cold shower. Before, it was hard to take it seriously. But I do think it is serious and potentially very dangerous.”

Another person who was briefed on the call told the outlet: “The intent was very clear. They want it. The Danes are now in crisis mode.” Someone else said: “The Danes are utterly freaked out by this.”

According to one former Danish official, the call was a “very tough conversation” in which Trump “threatened specific measures against Denmark such as targeted tariffs”. » | Maya Yang | Saturday, January 25, 2025

This American president is DISGUSTING. OUTRAGEOUS, OBJECTIONABLE and VULGAR. At this rate, America and the Americans will be the most despised, most hated country and people on the planet. We'll ALL be doing what the Iranians have long done! For Christ's sake, leave the peace-loving Danes and Greenlanders alone! Stop molesting them! – © Mark Alexander

Danish Official Explains Why He Told Trump to 'F*** Off'

Jan 24, 2025 | CNN’s Erin Burnett speaks with Anders Vistisen, a Danish member of the European Parliament, about his decision to tell President Donald Trump to “f*** off” in response to Trump touting the idea of buying Greenland.

Anders Vistisen is a HERO in my eyes. He told Trump exactly what needed to be said. Trump is a crude, nasty, uncouth man who understands no fine words. I applaud this man for having the courage to stand up to that despicable bully, otherwise known as Trump. Hands off Greenland, Mr Trump! – © Mark Alexander

Danish MP Tells Trump to F*** Off over Sale of Greenland

Jan 21, 2025 | A Danish MEP unleashed an expletive rant at President Trump over his proposal to buy Greenland.

Anders Vistisen told Trump to f*** off, after the president reiterated his plan to take over the Danish territory.


All hail Anders Vistisen! FO is the EXACT thing Trump needs to be told. Kudos, Mr Vistisen! FO is the only language that vulgar boor Trump understands. – © Mark Alexander

Trump Says He Wants Control of Danish Island of Greenland

Jan 14, 2025

'We Have Our Limits': Danish MP Claims Trump's Greenland Threats Are Wearing on Country's Goodwill

Jan 8, 2025 | 'We have our limits': Danish MP claims Trump's Greenland threats are wearing on country's goodwill

Trump is a despicable character. He is not worthy of the presidency. – © Mark Alexander

Trump Threatens Allies & Promises Chaos In Press Conference | The Warning with Steve Schmidt

Jan 8, 2025 | Donald Trump spoke with the media yesterday, answering questions about Greenland, windmills and everything in between. Steve Schmidt breaks down the most troubling quotes and how Trump's goals will only bring catastrophe to America.

"Covfefe!"

Does a nation whose people are so ill-informed that they re-elect a man such as Trump deserve to have a vote at all? – © Mark Alexander

Denmark Boosts Greenland Defence after Trump Repeats Desire for US Control

BBC: The Danish government has announced a huge boost in defence spending for Greenland, hours after US President-elect Donald Trump repeated his desire to purchase the Arctic territory.

Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the package was a "double digit billion amount" in krone, or at least $1.5bn (£1.2bn).

He described the timing of the announcement as an "irony of fate". On Monday Trump said ownership and control of the huge island was an "absolute necessity" for the US. » | Robert Greenall, BBC News | Paul Kirby, Europe digital editor | Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Greenland PM Reiterates ‘We Are Not for Sale’ after Trump Suggests US Ownership

THE GUARDIAN: US president-elect raises issue of control of Denmark territory five years after proposing to buy it during first term

A screenshot taken from this article in today's Guardian. | Icebergs in Baffin Bay near Pituffik, Greenland in 2022. The territory is home to a strategically important US space base. Photograph: Kerem Yücel/AFP/Getty Images
Greenland’s elected leader said the gigantic Arctic island is not for sale after Donald Trump once again raised the issue of “ownership and control” of the vast territory that has been part of Denmark for more than 600 years.

“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” Greenland’s prime minister, Múte Egede, said in a written comment.

The US president-elect on Sunday announced that he had picked Ken Howery, a former envoy to Sweden, as his ambassador to Copenhagen, and commented on the status of Greenland, a semi-autonomous part of Denmark. » | Guardian staff and agencies |Monday, December 23, 2024

Donald Trump thinks everything is for sale. He thinks everything has a price. – © Mark Alexander

Taxing Farm Animals’ Farts and Burps? Denmark Gives It a Try.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Cows and pigs produce a large share of planet-warming methane. A new tax is part of a plan to clean that up.

Denmark, known for its inventive restaurants and elegant design studios, is about to become known for something more basic: the world’s first belch and manure tax.

That’s because there are five times as many pigs and cows in Denmark as there are people. Nearly two-thirds of its land is taken up by farming. And agriculture is becoming its largest share of climate pollution, putting lawmakers under intense public pressure to reduce it.

So now, Denmark’s unlikely coalition government, made up of three parties from across the political spectrum, has agreed to tax the planet-heating methane emissions that all those animals expel through their poop, farts and burps. The measure, under negotiation for years, was passed by the Danish Parliament this month, making it the only such climate levy on livestock in the world.

“I think it’s good,” said Rasmus Angelsnes, 31, who was shopping for dinner in Copenhagen one recent afternoon. “It’s kind of a nudge to make different choices, maybe more climate-friendly choices.” » | Somini Sengupta | Somini Sengupta visited farms, delis and supermarkets in Denmark to understand the unusual new law. | Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark Says Queen Elizabeth II Made 'Enormous Impression' on Her | ITV News | Reupload

May 24, 2022 | ITV News Correspondent Lucy Watson sat down with Queen Margrethe II of Denmark ahead of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. The two royals are the only two reigning Queens in the world, and coincidentally, they're both celebrating Jubilees this year.

Polish Man Sentenced to Four Months in Prison for Attacking Danish PM

THE GUARDIAN: Mette Frederiksen suffered whiplash and was ‘clearly shaken’ by incident in Copenhagen in June, court hears

A man has been sentenced to four months in prison after being found guilty of attacking the Danish prime minister.

The 39-year-old Polish man – who Danish authorities ruled could not be named by the media – punched Mette Frederiksen in the right arm, causing the prime minister to lose her balance, while she was in Copenhagen during campaigning for the EU elections.

The Social Democrat leader suffered whiplash and was taken to hospital for a checkup after the incident just before 6pm on 7 June. Afterwards, she cancelled several events and said the attack had given her “a big scare”.

In a ruling by the Copenhagen city court, the assailant was convicted of violence against an official while in office. » | Miranda Bryant, Nordic correspondent | Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Russia Could Attack Nato within Three Years, Warns Denmark

THE TELEGRAPH: The Danish defence minister has warned Russia could go to war with Nato in as little as three years.

Troels Lund Poulsen, who also serves as Denmark’s deputy prime minister, has joined colleagues from the UK, Sweden, Romania, Germany and others in raising the alarm about increased Russian defence spending and manufacturing.

“It cannot be ruled out that within a three- to five-year period, Russia will test Article 5 and Nato’s solidarity. That was not Nato’s assessment in 2023. This is new information that is coming to the fore now,” Mr Poulsen told Jyllands-Posten, a Danish newspaper. » | Friday, February 9, 2024