Trump tariffs LIVE: Macron denounces tariff threats to EU nations over Greenland: ‘No intimidation will influence us’

In Copenhagen, protesters marched to the US embassy holding the red-and-white flag of Greenland and signs reading “No means No” and “Hands off Greenland”, while chanting “Greenland is not for sale”, according to Reuters.

Some participants wore red baseball caps similar to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” caps, but with the message “Make America Go Away.”

In Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, thousands led by Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen carried flags and banners while chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat,” the island’s name in Greenlandic, as they marched to the US consulate.

“I’ve come here today because I think it’s important to show that Greenland is not for sale. It is not a toy. This is our home,” said Naja Holm, a civil servant.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday intensified his efforts to acquire Greenland, warning several European countries of tariffs of up to 25 percent until his purchase of the Danish territory is completed, according to AFP.

Trump’s threats coincided with thousands of people protesting in Greenland’s capital against his desire to acquire the mineral-rich island at the gateway to the Arctic.

Thousands more also took to the streets in Copenhagen and other cities across Denmark.

European Union leaders on Saturday cautioned about a “dangerous downward spiral” following US President Donald Trump’s pledge to impose escalating tariffs on European allies until the United States is permitted to purchase Greenland.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa said in posts on X, “Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday condemned US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose heavy tariffs on European allies opposing his attempts to acquire Greenland, calling it “completely wrong”

Starmer said in a statement, “Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.”

He added, “We have also made clear that Arctic Security matters for the whole of Nato and allies should all do more together to address the threat from Russia across different parts of the Arctic.”

US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on European countries that do not allow him to acquire Greenland “come as a surprise,” Denmark’s Foreign Minister said Saturday in a statement to AFP.

Lars Lokke Rasmussen said, “The purpose of the increased military presence in Greenland, to which the president refers, is precisely to enhance security in the Arctic.”

He added, “We are in close contact with the European Commission and our other partners on the matter,” speaking just days after attending talks at the White House with US and Greenlandic officials regarding the Greenland issue.

President Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs against European countries over Greenland reflects Europe’s weakness and inability to act, the head of Germany’s DIW economic research institute said on Saturday, according to Reuters.

DIW President Marcel Fratzscher said, “Europe has steadily given in and let Trump have his way, instead of standing up for its own interests and promoting multilateralism globally.”

He added, “This mistake is now coming back to haunt us,” warning that Trump would “continue to blackmail Europe until Europe … shows backbone, and acts more wisely.”

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Saturday said it was for Europe to decide how to respond to fresh tariff threats from President Donald Trump against certain European countries over Greenland, according to Reuters.

Speaking to reporters at the Detroit auto show, Greer said, “If I were the Europeans I would probably try to silo this off if they can. If they want to make it an issue in the trade deal that’s really up to them and not us.”

His remarks came after Trump vowed on Saturday to impose tariffs on some European allies for opposing his push to take over Greenland.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday said that US President Donald Trump’s threat of imposing tariffs over Greenland was unacceptable, adding that Europe would respond in a unified manner if the measures were confirmed, according to Reuters.

In a post on X, Macron said, “No intimidation nor threat will influence us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world when we are confronted with such situations.”

He added, “Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context. Europeans will respond to them in a united and coordinated manner if they were to be confirmed.”

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Saturday dismissed US President Donald Trump’s warning to European countries of steep tariffs if they did not allow him to acquire Greenland.

“We won’t let ourselves be intimidated,” he said in a message to AFP, adding, “Only Denmark and Greenland decide questions that concern them.”

Kristersson said, “I will always defend my country and our allied neighbours,” underlining that the issue was “a European question.”

He also said Sweden was engaged in “intensive discussions” with other EU nations, as well as Norway and the United Kingdom, to work towards a joint response.

European Council President Antonio Costa said on Saturday that the European Union would stand firmly by international law in response to fresh tariff threats from US President Donald Trump, adding that he was working to coordinate a collective EU response.

As per Reuters, speaking at a press conference after the EU signed a free trade agreement with Mercosur, and shortly after Trump vowed to impose tariffs on European allies opposing his push to take over Greenland, Costa said, “What we can say is that the European Union will always be very firm in defending international law, wherever it may be, which of course begins within the territory of the member states of the European Union.”

He added, “For now, I am coordinating a joint response from the member states of the European Union on this issue.”