Red baseball caps parodying Donald Trump’s MAGA hats have become a symbol of Danish and Greenlandic resistance to the United States (U.S.) president’s threats to take over the icy territory.
Caps bearing the slogan “Make America Go Away” – a parody of Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again” – have gained popularity, along with several variants, on social media and during public protests, including a demonstration held in Copenhagen.
Support of European governments
European governments are standing with Denmark and Greenland, emphasizing the need to defend Arctic regions and warning that Trump’s threats to Greenland undermine Western security.
The caps were conceived by the owner of a vintage shop in Copenhagen, Jesper Rabe Tonnesen. The first batches did not achieve success in 2024 until the Trump administration intensified its rhetoric about Greenland. Now the caps are appearing everywhere.
Idea and motivation
“When the delegation from the U.S. went to Greenland, we began to realize that this was probably not a joke – this is not reality TV, this is reality,” Tonnesen said. “I said, ‘OK, what can I do?’ Can I communicate in a humorous way with a good message and unite to show that the Danish people support the people of Greenland?”
Demand rose sharply from sporadic sales to selling out over the course of just one weekend. Tonnesen said he has now ordered “several thousand” pieces. The original version designed by Tonnesen featured a wordplay: “Nu det NUUK!” – a play on the Danish phrase “Nu det nok,” which means “Enough is enough,” replacing the word with Nuuk, the small capital of Greenland.
Protests and messages of support
Some caps were worn during protests on Saturday, where demonstrators waved red-and-white Danish and Greenlandic flags and carried handmade placards mocking U.S. claims over the territory.
One sign read: “NO means NO,” while another declared: “Make America Smart Again.”
“I want to show my support for Greenland and also show that I don’t like the president of the U.S.,” said Lars Hermansen, a resident of Copenhagen, who was wearing one of the red caps.
Another protest participant, Kristian Boye, said that the gathering in front of Copenhagen City Hall had a light tone while conveying a serious message.
“I am here to support the Greenlanders, who are currently going through a very difficult period,” he said. “They are being threatened with an invasion of their country. I think that is completely unacceptable.”
