TL:DR – Danish PM Mette Frederiksen reiterates Trump’s serious interest in Greenland
• Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that US President Donald Trump is still “very serious” about taking control of Greenland at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
• Frederiksen’s comments come after an agreement on Greenland was reached at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
• Viral videos inaccurately labelled Danish parliamentary laughter over Trump’s Greenland proposal; the footage actually dates back to 3 October 2019.
• The laughter was in response to the discussion of Denmark purchasing a camel and four elephants for over €1.5 million.
Fact check: Did Denmark’s parliament burst into laughter about Trump’s Greenland purchase plans?
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, 17 February 2024, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated her belief that United States President Donald Trump remained “very serious” about taking control of the semi-autonomous territory of Greenland. This assertion comes amidst ongoing discussions over the strategic significance of Greenland, a topic of key diplomatic interest for Denmark.
The comments are notable as they suggest a resurgence in dialogue about Greenland, following what appeared to be a thaw in US-Danish tensions. Recently, an agreement regarding the future of Greenland was reached at the World Economic Forum in Davos, signalling a potential shift in relations.
Social Media Misunderstanding of Danish Laughter
According to viral videos circulating on social media, Trump’s Greenland takeover plans prompted hysterical laughter within the Danish parliamentary chamber. Clips titled “Denmark’s Hilarious Response to Trump’s Greenland Proposal” have gained significant traction, claiming to depict the Danish Parliament’s reaction to Trump’s intentions.
However, the footage has been misleadingly contextualised. The Cube, Euronews’ fact-checking team, discovered that the video, originally posted on the Danish Parliament’s website, dates back to 3 October 2019 and features Prime Minister Frederiksen laughing during a discussion about the purchase of a camel and four circus elephants, rather than any comments regarding Trump.
Context of Danish Parliamentary Laughter
During the parliamentary session referenced, laughter erupted after Prime Minister Frederiksen explained the controversial €1.5 million purchase of a camel named Ali and the elephants, which had been deemed necessary following a ban on wild animals in circuses. She later disclosed that the animals were not as inseparable as initially believed, saying, “Unfortunately, Ali is not doing so well, and he wasn’t actually Ramboline’s [one of the elephants] best friend either, so it probably wasn’t such a good deal we made.”
While Frederiksen’s comments come amid a renewed focus on Greenland’s future, the details of the agreement made during the World Economic Forum remain unclear, despite Trump describing it as a step towards the US gaining “total access” to the territory. NATO has since agreed to enhance its strategic security presence in the Arctic, emphasising the geopolitical importance of the region.
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