Key Takeaways:
- Trump's aggressive stance on Greenland has created a rare national consensus in Denmark, uniting all major parties against him.
- European far-right parties, once inspired by Trump's "America First" rhetoric, are now distancing themselves from his foreign policy.
- The Danish election shows how external threats can shift political focus inward to domestic issues like immigration and welfare.
- Attempts by Trump allies to build an international nationalist movement are struggling due to cultural differences and local political realities.
The Unlikely Consensus Against Trump
Morten Messerschmidt, leader of Denmark's far-right Danish People's Party, once celebrated Donald Trump's return to power as the death of "wokeness." Today, he and his party colleagues are telling the American president to "fuck off." This dramatic reversal illustrates a surprising development in European politics: Trump's foreign policy is creating unity where there was once division.
The catalyst? Trump's persistent campaign to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. What began as geopolitical theater has become a national security crisis that has forced even Trump's ideological allies in Europe to choose sides. And they're choosing Denmark.
"There is literally no one in the spectrum of the dozen parties running—no one—who questions the position taken by the present government," says Bo Lidegaard, a Danish historian and former diplomat. "No one is questioning that we had to take a firm stance against Trump."
From Inspiration to Liability
A decade ago, Trump's election seemed to signal a global shift toward nationalist populism. European far-right leaders like Marine Le Pen in France and Alice Weidel in Germany looked to Washington and thought: It can happen here. They adopted Trump's vocabulary—woke, witch hunt, fake news—and saw his victory as validation of their own political projects.
Today, that relationship has soured. The European far right embraced Trump's "blood-and-soil" vision of "America First" but wants nothing to do with version 2.0, which includes:
- Military intervention in the Middle East
- Attempts to seize foreign territory
- Global bullying tactics that threaten European sovereignty
As one U.S. diplomat noted: "MAGA elites badly misunderstand the European far right."
Denmark's Political Transformation
Denmark offers a unique case study in how mature democracies handle far-right movements. The Danish People's Party, founded in 1995, gained influence by focusing on immigration just as Denmark joined the Schengen Area in 2001. Their strategy was simple but effective:
- Acquire a defunct border guardhouse as a symbol of their commitment to border control
- Support center-right coalitions in exchange for immigration restrictions
- Push for the restoration of border checkpoints (achieved in 2011)
Over time, mainstream parties co-opted their positions, particularly after the 2015-2016 migration crisis. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's Social Democrats moved right on immigration, combining social welfare with strict intake rules and increased deportations.
The Failed "Inverse Color Revolution"
The Trump administration actively tried to support Europe's far right, seeing it as part of an "inverse color revolution"—backing movements that would undermine liberal democracy. Key efforts included:
- Defunding programs accused of promoting democracy abroad
- Publicly urging European governments to stop marginalizing far-right parties
- Identifying "cultivating resistance to Europe's current trajectory" as a national security priority
Yet this strategy has largely failed. As Steve Bannon, who tried to create a far-right international movement called "The Movement," admits: "Europeans are European for a reason. Their ancestors made a decision not to come here, and sometimes American brashness rubs them the wrong way."
Domestic Politics Trump Foreign Policy
In the final days of Denmark's election campaign, the contrast with American politics couldn't be starker. While Trump rallies feature pyrotechnics and bombast, Danish politicians focus on:
- Industrial pig farming regulations
- Drinking water quality
- Food standards in nursing homes
- A candidate's past cocaine use
Immigration, once the Danish People's Party's signature issue, has been overshadowed by Trump's Greenland threats. As Allan Feldt, the party's lead candidate in Copenhagen, admits: "Trump is actually getting her elected. People are standing behind her when they hear hostile rhetoric coming from the Trump administration regarding Greenland."
The Unintended Consequences of Interference
History shows that foreign interference in elections often backfires. In 1796, French support for Thomas Jefferson may have contributed to John Adams' victory. Today, Trump's threats are having similar effects:
- In Canada, Trump's talk of annexation helped Liberals win an election against Conservatives who sounded too Trump-like
- In Denmark, Trump's aggression has given Prime Minister Frederiksen a political lifeline despite previous poor polling
- Across Europe, far-right parties are learning that association with Trump can be electoral poison
Looking Inward in a Chaotic World
The most telling aspect of Denmark's election may be what's not being discussed. Despite ongoing security crises—including Danish military preparations to blow up Greenland runways in case of U.S. invasion—politicians and media have an informal agreement to focus on domestic issues.
As Carl Emil Lind of the Social Democrats' youth wing notes: "Foreign threats are bearing down on Denmark, but its politicians are focusing on the most intimate needs of all." This inward turn represents both a survival strategy and a subtle rebuke to Trump's chaotic international approach.
For travelers and EU citizens watching these developments, Denmark's experience offers important lessons about European politics:
- National sovereignty remains a powerful unifying force
- Local issues often trump global ideological alliances
- The Schengen system and freedom of movement face challenges from both left and right
- European democracies can absorb far-right movements without collapsing
As Denmark votes, the message to Washington is clear: even political allies have red lines, and crossing them can create unexpected unity among former adversaries.