'Make America Go Away' parody caps have emerged as a symbol of Danish and Greenlandic resistance after talk about the U.S. acquiring Greenland. Created by Copenhagen vintage-seller Jesper Rabe Tonnesen, the hats sold out after renewed U.S. rhetoric and he has ordered “several thousand” more. Protesters in Copenhagen waved Danish and Greenlandic flags and held signs like “No Means No”, blending satire with a serious message about Greenland’s sovereignty.
Danish Protesters Turn Trump’s MAGA Into ‘Make America Go Away’ Caps in Support of Greenland
People march during a pro- Greenlanders demonstration, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Red baseball caps parodying Donald Trump’s signature MAGA hat — stamped with the slogan 'Make America Go Away' — have become a visible emblem of Danish and Greenlandic opposition after reports that the U.S. president discussed acquiring Greenland. The hats have circulated widely on social media and were on display at a weekend rally in freezing weather outside Copenhagen City Hall.
Store owner Jesper Rabe Tonnesen gives a thumbs up as he wears a red cap for sale that he created with the slogan "Nu det NUUK!," a twist on the Danish phrase “Nu det nok,” meaning “Now it’s enough,” substituting Nuuk, Greenland’s tiny capital, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
From Gag Gift to Political Statement
The caps were produced by Jesper Rabe Tonnesen, owner of a Copenhagen vintage-clothing shop. He said early batches sold poorly last year, but demand surged after the Trump administration renewed aggressive rhetoric about Greenland, prompting him to order 'several thousand' more.
Store owner Jesper Rabe Tonnesen wears a red cap for sale that he created with the slogan "Nu det NUUK!," a twist on the Danish phrase “Nu det nok,” meaning “Now it’s enough,” substituting Nuuk, Greenland’s tiny capital, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
“When a delegation from America went up to Greenland, we started to realize this probably wasn’t a joke — it’s not reality TV, it’s actually reality,” Tonnesen, 58, said. “So I said, OK, what can I do? Can I communicate in a funny way with a good message and unite the Danes to show that Danish people support the people of Greenland?”
Protests and Public Reaction
At Saturday’s demonstration, protesters waved red-and-white Danish and Greenlandic flags and carried handmade placards mocking U.S. claims over the Arctic territory, which is slightly larger than Saudi Arabia. Signs read messages such as 'No Means No' and 'Make America Smart Again.'
A worker prints red caps for sale covered by the slogan "Nu det NUUK!," a twist on the Danish phrase “Nu det nok,” meaning “Now it’s enough,” substituting Nuuk, Greenland’s tiny capital, a the store of the hat's creator Jesper Rabe Tonnesen in Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Participants said the atmosphere combined lighthearted satire with a serious warning about sovereignty. “I’m here to support the Greenlanders, who are going through a very hard time right now,” said Kristian Boye, 49, wearing one of the spoof caps. “They are being threatened with having their country invaded. I think it’s totally unacceptable.”
A red cap for sale carries the slogan "Nu det NUUK!," a twist on the Danish phrase “Nu det nok,” meaning “Now it’s enough,” substituting Nuuk, Greenland’s tiny capital, a the store of the hat's creator Jesper Rabe Tonnesen in Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Wider Diplomatic Context
European governments rallied around Denmark following the episode, arguing that threats to Greenland undermine Western security and the need to protect Arctic regions. The caps have become a shorthand for popular resistance to perceived attempts to infringe on Greenland’s autonomy.
Designer’s Original Twist: Tonnesen’s first design included a Danish-language pun — 'Nu det NUUK!' — playing on the phrase 'Nu det nok' (Now it’s enough) and substituting Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.
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