‘Make America Go Away' hats emerge as symbol of Danish and Greenlandic resistance to Trump's Greenland ambitions

Red baseball caps parodying US President Donald Trump’s iconic MAGA hats have emerged as a symbol of defiance in Denmark and Greenland amid Trump’s renewed threats to seize the Arctic territory.

The caps read “Make America Go Away,” a twist on Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, and have gained traction on social media and at public protests, including a weekend rally held in Copenhagen.

Protests target Greenland rhetoric

European governments have rallied behind Denmark. and, protesters, however, have been more blunt in their criticism.

“I want to show my support to Greenland and also show that I don’t like the president of the United States,” AP quoted a 76-year-old Copenhagen resident Lars Hermansen, who wore one of the spoof caps at Saturday’s protest, as saying.

Hat creator says demand has surged

The mock hats were created by Copenhagen vintage clothing store owner Jesper Rabe Tonnesen, who said early batches sold poorly last year before interest surged following heightened rhetoric from the Trump administration over Greenland.

“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,” said Tonnesen, 58. “So I said, OK, what can I do? Can I communicate in a funny way with a good message and unite the Danes to show that Danish people support the people of Greenland?”

Tonnesen said demand jumped from a trickle to selling out within a single weekend, prompting him to order “several thousand” more caps.

Wordplay and protest symbolism

The original version of the hat featured the slogan “Nu det NUUK!” — a play on the Danish phrase “Nu det nok,” meaning “Now it’s enough,” substituting Nuuk, Greenland’s small capital.

At Saturday’s demonstration outside Copenhagen City Hall, protesters waved Danish and Greenlandic flags and held handmade signs mocking US claims over Greenland.

“No Means No,” read one sign.

Protester Kristian Boye, 49, said the rally struck a lighthearted tone while addressing a serious issue.

“I’m here to support the Greenlanders, who are going through a very hard time right now,” Boye said. “They are being threatened with having their country invaded. I think it’s totally unacceptable.”

Trump threatens tariffs on European allies, sparking backlash

Trump escalated tensions over Greenland by threatening to impose tariffs on eight European countries unless Denmark agrees to sell the semi-autonomous Arctic territory to the United States.

Trump announced a 10% tariff starting February 1, 2026, on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland, increasing to 25% on June 1 if a deal is not reached. The move is framed as a national security necessity, citing Greenland’s strategic location and mineral resources.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the approach, telling NBC that the US is leveraging emergency powers and that “Europeans project weakness, US projects strength.”

European response: Unified opposition

The EU and NATO allies reacted sharply. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, calling the tariff threat “dangerous” and insisting that Greenland’s sovereignty must be respected.

French President Emmanuel Macron described Trump’s threats as “unacceptable,” while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said applying tariffs to allies over collective security is “completely wrong.” Other European leaders, including officials from Germany, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands, echoed the message, warning that unilateral US action could destabilize NATO.

The EU is considering retaliatory tariffs on €93 billion ($108 billion) of US goods, though officials hope for a diplomatic solution first. An emergency EU meeting of ambassadors was convened to discuss next steps.