NUUK, Greenland — In a powerful display of unity, thousands of Greenlanders gathered on Saturday to voice their opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump. With placards in hand, bearing messages of resistance, and their national flag waving proudly, they marched resolutely across the icy terrain, chanting the phrase, “Greenland is not for sale,” to assert their right to self-governance amid escalating concerns over American intentions.

The protestors’ journey commenced in the heart of Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, and culminated at the U.S. Consulate. Despite the rain and near-freezing temperatures, the demonstrators remained undeterred. However, as they reached their destination, news emerged from the warmth of Trump’s Florida golf course: a new 10% import tax on goods from eight European countries, set to begin in February, was announced, apparently in response to these nations’ opposition to U.S. interests in Greenland.

READ: Trump announces tariffs on countries opposing US control of Greenland

Malik Dollerup-Scheibel, visibly taken aback, expressed his disbelief upon learning of Trump’s decision from The Associated Press. “I didn’t think this day could get any worse, but it has,” he remarked, highlighting his concern over the President’s disregard for international sentiment.

Trump has consistently voiced his desire for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, a territory known for its strategic location and mineral wealth. His calls for acquisition gained momentum following a military operation aimed at removing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.

Among the protesters was 21-year-old Malik Dollerup-Scheibel and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, joining what some referred to as the largest demonstration in Nuuk’s history, involving nearly a quarter of the city’s residents. The movement extended beyond Greenland’s borders, with rallies held in Copenhagen and even as far as the Inuit-governed territory of Nunavut in northern Canada, showcasing widespread solidarity across the Danish realm.

“This is important for the whole world,” Danish protester Elise Riechie said as she held Danish and Greenlandic flags in Copenhagen. “There are many small countries. None of them are for sale.”

In Nuuk, Greenlanders of all ages listened to traditional songs as they walked to the consulate. Marie Pedersen, a 47-year-old Greenlander, said it was important to bring her children to the rally “to show them that they’re allowed to speak up.”

“We want to keep our own country and our own culture, and our family safe,” she said.

Her 9-year-old daughter, Alaska, crafted her own “Greenland is not for sale” sign. The girl said her teachers have addressed the controversy and taught them about NATO at school.

“They tell us how to stand up if you’re being bullied by another country or something,” she said.

Meanwhile, Tom Olsen, a police officer in Nuuk, said Saturday’s protest was the biggest he’s ever seen there.

“I hope it can show him that we stand together in Europe,” he said. “We are not going down without a fight.”

Tillie Martinussen, a former member of Greenland’s parliament, said she hopes the Trump administration will “abandon this crazy idea.”

“They started out as sort of touting themselves as our friends and allies, that they wanted to make Greenland better for us than the Danes would,” she said as others chanted in the background. “And now they’re just plain out threatening us.”

She added that the push to preserve NATO and Greenland’s autonomy were more important than facing tariffs, though she added that she was not dismissing the potential economic impact.

“This is a fight for freedom,” she said. “It’s for NATO, it’s for everything the Western Hemisphere has been fighting for since World War II.”

But when the AP asked Louise Lennert Olsen what she would say to Trump, the 40-year-old Greenlandic nurse instead said she wanted to give a message to the American people.

“I would really like them to support our wish to be Greenland as we are now,” she said as she marched through Nuuk. “I hope they will stand against their own president. Because I can’t believe they just stand and watch and do nothing.”

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Niemann reported from Copenhagen, Denmark, and Dazio from Berlin. Associated Press journalists Kwiyeon Ha and Evgeniy Maloletka in Nuuk, Greenland, contributed to this report.