A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation visited Denmark on Saturday to reassure both Denmark and Greenland of American support amid tensions following President Donald Trump’s recent tariff threats. These threats emerged after certain countries refrained from endorsing the U.S. proposal to acquire Greenland, a strategically important Arctic territory.

Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware and the delegation’s leader, expressed concerns over the escalating rhetoric regarding Greenland. He emphasized the need to reduce tensions and rebuild confidence within the Danish kingdom.

“I hope the people of the Kingdom of Denmark maintain their trust in the American people,” Coons stated in Copenhagen. He underscored the longstanding respect between the U.S. and Denmark and highlighted their collaborative efforts within NATO.

In response to the situation, thousands took to the streets of Copenhagen on Saturday, displaying Greenland’s flag and carrying placards with messages such as “Make America Smart Again” and “Hands Off.” These demonstrations were part of a broader movement, with additional rallies planned in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, and other parts of the Danish kingdom.

Other rallies were planned in Nuuk, the Greenlandic capital, and elsewhere in the Danish kingdom.

Coons’ comments contrasted with that emanating from the White House. Trump has sought to justify his calls for a U.S. takeover by repeatedly claiming that China and Russia have their own designs on Greenland, which holds vast untapped reserves of critical minerals. The White House hasn’t ruled out taking the territory by force.

“There are no current security threats to Greenland,” Coons said.

Trump for months has insisted that the U.S. should control Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, and said earlier this week that anything less than the Arctic island being in U.S. hands would be “unacceptable.”

During an unrelated event at the White House about rural health care, he recounted Friday how he had threatened European allies with tariffs on pharmaceuticals.

“I may do that for Greenland, too,” Trump said. “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security. So I may do that,” he said.

He had not previously mentioned using tariffs to try to force the issue.

Earlier this week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met in Washington with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

That encounter didn’t resolve the deep differences, but did produce an agreement to set up a working group — on whose purpose Denmark and the White House then offered sharply diverging public views.

European leaders have insisted it is only for Denmark and Greenland to decide on matters concerning the territory, and Denmark said this week that it was increasing its military presence in Greenland in cooperation with allies.

“There is almost no better ally to the United States than Denmark,” Coons said. “If we do things that cause Danes to question whether we can be counted on as a NATO ally, why would any other country seek to be our ally or believe in our representations?”

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