Former Danish diplomats hammer Trump on trip cancellation: ‘Total chaos’
Several former Danish diplomats slammed President Trump after he pulled out of a meeting with Denmark’s leaders after the prime minister made clear Greenland is not for sale.
Trump’s decision to postpone a state visit to Denmark after his desire to buy Greenland was rejected prompted former Prime Minister Kristian Jensen to call the situation “total chaos,” according to Reuters.
{mosads}“Total chaos with @realDonaldTrump and cancellation of state visit to Denmark. It has gone from a big opportunity for strengthened dialogue between allies to a diplomatic crisis,” Jensen tweeted.
“Everyone should know Greenland is not for sale,” he added, echoing remarks made by Greenland’s foreign minister last week.
Former Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard told a Danish broadcaster TV2 that Trump’s behavior is “grotesque” and he was “throwing a hissy fit.”
Trump was scheduled to visit Denmark on Sept. 2 following a trip to Poland. He was expected to meet with the queen of Denmark, other leaders and business officials, as well as Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who called the idea of purchasing the world’s largest island “absurd.”
“Denmark is a very special country with incredible people, but based on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s comments, that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time,” Trump tweeted late Tuesday.
Denmark is a very special country with incredible people, but based on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s comments, that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2019
Soren Espersen, the foreign affairs spokesman for the right-wing Danish People’s Party, called the situation “very, very shocking, when it is about a very close ally and a good friend.”
Morten Østergaard, leader of the Danish Social Liberal Party, told Reuters that Trump is “unpredictable” and proves why Denmark “now more than ever should consider [fellow] European Union countries as our closest allies.”
“Reality surpasses imagination,” he added.
A spokesperson for the Danish royal palace told The Associated Press that Trump’s move to postpone the meeting was “a surprise.”
Trump on Sunday confirmed his interest in potentially purchasing the autonomous territory from Denmark, comparing it to “a large real estate deal.”
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