NUUK, Greenland 

• 'Now it's different. It could be positive and it could be negative in both ways, but I don't know what the first results would be,' health worker Inge-Lene Sandgreen tells Anadolu on Greenland's surprise election result

After Greenland’s stunning election upset this week, indigenous Inuit residents say they remain offended by US President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring the island — just as they were when he first floated the idea in 2019

Speaking to Anadolu, Andreas Hojgaard, a resident of the capital Nuuk, called Trump “untrustworthy” and “arrogant,” accusing him of trying to “steal our country from Denmark.”

“I think he is dangerous for Greenland,” he added.

Hojgaard recalled how Trump’s attempt to buy Greenland had deeply offended the local population.

“We are not slaves,” he said. “We live in our own country, and we don’t buy or sell slaves in Greenland. And we felt like he thought we were just a bunch of slaves who live in Greenland.”

‘Enough is enough’

Trump doubled down Thursday on his desire to annex Greenland, just a day after a staunchly pro-independence party won the most votes in a closely watched election.

“We have to do it. We really need it for national security,” Trump told reporters while hosting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

“That's why NATO might have to get involved, in a way, because we really need Greenland for national security,” he added.

In response, Mute Egede, Greenland’s outgoing prime minister following a heavy election defeat on Tuesday, announced plans to convene all party leaders in the local parliament, Inatsisartut, to discuss a formal response to Trump’s remarks.

Writing on Facebook, Egede denounced Trump’s renewed push for annexation.

“Now the American president has once again floated the idea of ​​annexing us. I cannot accept that in any way,” he said.

“I respect the result of the election, but since I believe that I have an obligation as acting Chairman of the Greenland Government — I have asked the civil service to summon the party chairmen as soon as possible.”

“Because this time we must sharpen our rejection of Trump. We must not continue to be treated with disrespect. Enough is enough,” he added.

‘A different election’

Hojgaard said the election results were unlike previous ones.

“It's the first time I have seen this election being so different from the other elections, because the Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit, Atassut (parties) used to be the sovereign … and now it's very different,” he said.

Inge-Lene Sandgreen, an Inuit health worker, also noted a shift in political trends.

“It's different because the first the elections results were the same for our 23 years. So now it's different. It could be positive and it could be negative in both ways, but I don't know what the first results would be,” she told Anadolu.

Hojgaard, like many other locals, emphasized that Greenland needs a stronger economy before considering independence from Denmark.

“I think independence is good for Greenland, but as this situation now is we? We are a part of Denmark. Denmark has sovereignty over Greenland, and we don't have the economy for being independent,” he said.