COPENHAGEN, Denmark — A wave of creative resistance has swept through Denmark as citizens respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s expressed interest in acquiring Greenland. The movement has found its symbol in parody baseball caps that transform Trump’s iconic “Make America Great Again” slogan into “Make America Go Away.”
These satirical accessories, created by Copenhagen vintage store owner Jesper Rabe Tonnesen, have evolved from commercial failure to cultural phenomenon following the Trump administration’s serious overtures toward the autonomous Danish territory. What began as a limited run last year has exploded into a nationwide statement, with thousands of caps now in production to meet surging demand.
The headwear has appeared at public demonstrations, including a weekend protest in freezing temperatures outside Copenhagen City Hall, where participants waved Danish and Greenlandic flags while carrying signs with messages like “No Means No” and “Make America Smart Again.”
European governments have formally rallied behind Denmark, emphasizing Arctic security concerns and the importance of respecting territorial sovereignty. Meanwhile, Danish citizens have adopted a more direct approach to expressing their disapproval. “I want to show my support to Greenland and also show that I don’t like the president of the United States,” stated 76-year-old Copenhagen resident Lars Hermansen, who participated in the weekend demonstration.
Tonnesen, 58, described his motivation: “When a delegation from America went up to Greenland, we started to realize 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?”
The movement has also produced linguistic creativity with an alternative design featuring the phrase “Nu det NUUK!”—a clever play on words that replaces the Danish expression “Nu det nok” (meaning “Now it’s enough”) with the name of Greenland’s capital city.
Protesters maintained a balance between serious messaging and lighthearted expression. Kristian Boye, 49, who attended the Copenhagen rally, captured this dual approach: “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.”