Exclusive | Greenlanders marvel at Trump’s obsession with their fate: ‘It’s all about Greenland’

NUUK, Greenland — The high-stakes meeting in Washington between US, Danish and Greenlandic officials came in with a roar and left with a whimper — and at least some Greenlanders say that was exactly the problem.

“It was very formal, very basic,” said Nikolannguaq Heilmann, a local Greenland resident who followed the talks closely. “Just the first meeting about the issue. Nothing big. Nothing concrete.”

The sit-down with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance had been hyped amid global speculation about America’s growing interest in Greenland — and lingering fears of a US ultimatum after President Trump previously refused to rule out acquiring the island by force. But no dramatic announcements emerged.

Ahead of the meeting, nerves were abound as shoppers at the local Nuuk Center energetically spoke to one another about what would come from the big meeting — before putting down their carts about a half-hour before it was set to begin to hurry home to watch news coverage of the event.

Instead, many Greenlanders were disappointed by the lack of answers.

“I was expecting something more direct, maybe more ultimatum from the US side,” said Heilmann, a retired shrimp boat engineer. “But it was just very general. It’s hard to say what to think about it.”

Others were even more blunt. Greenlandic Trump supporter Jorgen Boassen said the meeting accomplished little and may be part of a strategy to stall.

“I think the Danish foreign minister and the Greenlandic foreign minister got nothing out of that meeting,” Boassen said. “They’re just trying to waste time — trying to convince Republican senators to change Trump’s mind.”

In recent weeks, social media and international outlets have hyped speculation about Greenland’s future — from independence to closer ties with Washington. Heilmann said the nonstop coverage has whipped anxiety to a fever pitch.

“The media has been keeping this at such an exciting level,” he said. “TikTok, social media — it’s all about Greenland.”

But when the meeting wrapped without specifics, Heilmann said he was left wanting more.

“I think it should be as it was,” he said. “But I’m a little bit disappointed.”

For some Greenlanders, however, the lack of news came as a relief. Danish media had spent weeks amplifying fears of a potential US military move after Trump’s past comments.

Thorsteinsson, a native Icelander who moved to Greenland more than 40 years ago, said the situation reminded him of his homeland’s past under Denmark.

“Iceland was a colony of Denmark for hundreds of years. We got our independence in 1944,” he said. “I think Greenland can be independent — it has everything, one of the richest countries in resources. But with 57,000 people, it’s hard to drill.”

That reality, he said, could open the door to a deeper partnership with the US.

“So maybe it’s possible to work with the Americans to do it,” he said.

Asked whether Greenland should remain under Denmark, become independent, or even consider a US relationship, Heilmann didn’t hesitate.

“We should be our own nation and govern ourselves,” he said. “But we are very few people. It’s very isolated.”

After centuries of Danish rule, he says his patience is gone.

“I’ve had enough of Denmark and how they governed us in history,” Heilmann said. “I had enough.”

That doesn’t mean he’s closed to Washington.

“I would rather prefer us as a big partner,” he said.

But he warned that vague promises — or rumors of the US simply handing out cash to Greenlanders — would backfire.

“That’s a very arrogant way to try,” Heilmann said. “People know better than that.”

What Greenlanders want, he said, is specificity.

“The US should be more specific,” Heilmann said. “Not just media noise.”

He said he believes long-term, concrete partnerships — especially in industries like fishing — would matter far more than flashy headlines.

“We want a secure future doing business together,” he said. “Something that benefits us more than Denmark ever did.”

As for the Washington meeting, many Greenlanders say it felt less like a turning point — and more like the same old story.

“Just the first meeting,” Heilmann said. “And we’re still waiting to hear what it really means.”