Washington DC, August 22: United States President Donald Trump has on Wednesday lashed out at “nasty” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen after she dismissed his idea of acquiring Greenland.
According to BBC, Trump lashed out at the prime minister hours after Frederiksen said she felt “sorry” that the US president had “abruptly” ruled out an official state visit to Denmark.
Frederiksen has dismissed Trump’s interest in buying such a land agreement as “absurd”.
Trump was invited by Queen Margrethe II to pay an official visit to Denmark dated 2 September and the way he canceled his trip has shocked the Scandinavian country.
Interacting with reports at White House on Wednesday afternoon, the US president took a jibe at Frederiksen’s comments, saying, “I thought that the prime minister’s statement that it was absurd, that it was an absurd idea was nasty.”
He said, “I thought it was an inappropriate statement. All she had to do is say no, we wouldn’t be interested.”
He added: “She’s not talking to me. She’s talking to the United States of America. You don’t talk to the United States that way, at least under me.”
The US president underlined ex-US President Harry Truman had once considered making an offer for Greeland – an autonomous Danish territory.
In a tweet, Trump said: “For the record, Denmark is only at 1.35% of GDP for NATO spending. They are a wealthy country and should be at 2%. We protect Europe and yet, only 8 of the 28 NATO countries are at the 2% mark. The United States is at a much, much higher level than that …”
He continued tweeting: “… Because of me, these countries have agreed to pay ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS more – but still way short of what they should pay for the incredible military protection provided. Sorry!”
….Because of me, these countries have agreed to pay ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS more – but still way short of what they should pay for the incredible military protection provided. Sorry!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 21, 2019
Frederiksen has earlier on Wednesday reiterated Greeland couldn’t be brought. She further told reporters the idea of giving away the resourceful Arctiv island had been clearly “rejected” by the nation’s leader Kim Kielsen, “a position I share of course”.
She also stated Trump’s visit had been an opportunity “to celebrate Denmark’s close relationship to the US”.
“This does not change the character of our good relations and we will continue our dialogue on how we can deal with challenges we are facing,” she said, adding the invitation to Trump “remains open”.
She further said Trump’s ruling out a visit to Denmark was a matter of regret was “our preparations were well under way”.
Danish Conservative MP Rasmus Jarlov blamed Trump for not respect Denmark, tweeting: “What is this man thinking of though? And with grounds that are worthy of an April Fools’ joke.”
As a Dane (and a conservative) it is very hard to believe. For no reason Trump assumes that (an autonomous) part of our country is for sale. Then insultingly cancels visit that everybody was preparing for.
Are parts of the US for sale? Alaska?
Please show more respect.
🇩🇰🇬🇱🇺🇸— Rasmus Jarlov (@RasmusJarlov) August 21, 2019