MAGA opposition group in the fight for Greenland

They struggle their way over slippery rocks up the icy mountain that rises on the outskirts of Nuuk. Former intelligence agents and renegade Republicans with a history in Congress or the military.

Six members of the influential organization, Save America Movement, are in Greenland to fight Trump by all means, and here the battle for Greenland plays an important role.

"It's important for us to tell Greenlanders that not all Americans are crazy. And that we love this country," says Denver Riggleman, who was a Republican member of the House of Representatives until he turned against Trump in 2020 and was not given the opportunity to run again.

Denver Riggleman chats with some of the local children on the mountain trip outside Nuuk Photo: Thøger Andersen

- It is also important that we are here with our own media. So we can send the message home that it is ridiculous. That we have a president who wants to take Greenland by force or try to buy the country is so far-fetched, he says.

The local guide on the mountain is Finn Meinel, who works as a defense attorney in Nuuk:

- I think it's great. These people are anti-Trump. And it's important that we show Americans what it's all about up here in Greenland. So we can get even more support in the US, he says.

The group of Americans in Nuuk sends video and podcast back to the USA to fight Trump's plans in Greenland Photo: Thøger Andersen

The American guests send piles of material home via social media and live interviews on major TV stations such as MSNBC and CNN.

They also produce videos themselves when they meet with politicians, business leaders and ordinary Greenlanders.

As a technical expert on the investigative committee following the storm in Congress on January 6, 2021, Denver Riggleman has been a guest on a number of TV programs. Photo: CNN

The Save America Movement is a movement backed by millions of dollars that fights Trump by all means and describes him as a fascist.

- We want to ensure that the people of Greenland and Denmark understand that there are millions and millions of Americans who are completely opposed to Trump's rhetoric and his policies against NATO and especially Denmark and Greenland, says Mary Corcoran, who is co-founder of the Save America Movement and is on the hike "to become familiar with Greenlandic nature."

There are major donors behind the push in Greenland, which is not least about the upcoming midterm elections in the USA. Photo: Save America Movement

Back in town, they make their way by appointment to the house of construction consultant Peter Oluf Meyer by the colonial harbor in the old part of Nuuk.

- Since I could understand that they are part of a movement against Trump, I had no qualms about meeting them, he says.

If they had been pro-Trump, so what?

- Then I'm not sure I would have been as accommodating, says Peter Oluf Meyer, referring to other powerful Americans who have visited Nuuk in the past year.

Co-founder of the Save America Movement, Mary Corcoran, says they are well on their way to raising $100 million to fight Trump in the upcoming midterm elections. Photo: Thøger Andersen

Shortly after Donald Trump stepped up his threats against Greenland a little over a year ago, his son Trump Jr. came to Nuuk.

The following week, the YouTubers, Nelk Boys, came along, who made a MAGA advertisement for millions of followers by handing out 100-dollar bills in the city square.

Donald Trump Jr. during his visit to Nuuk in January last year. Photo: Emil Stach / Ritzau Scanpix

Since then, businessmen and possible agents with connections to the Trump administration have been spotted. All of this is of great concern to the Police Intelligence Service, which has expanded its staffing in Greenland.

- It is PET's assessment that Greenland, especially in the current situation, is a target for influence campaigns of various kinds. PET expects that such campaigns will aim to create discord in the relationship between Denmark and Greenland, the Danish Police Intelligence Service said in August.

Back then, Make-America-Great caps were given out. Today, caps with the text "Now it's Nuuk" are sold. Photo: Emil Stach / Ritzau Scanpix

But. This time the campaign is of the good kind, says former head of analysis in the Danish Armed Forces Intelligence Service, Jacob Kaarsbo, who is co-organizer of the visit and is in Greenland with the six Americans.

- It is an influence campaign based on democratic values ​​that are important to all of us. And as long as you operate within a democratic framework, it is something completely different from these subversive activities in Greenland.

Jacob Kaarsbo, who is here with Denver Riggleman, is himself a former intelligence officer in the Danish Defense Intelligence Service and describes the visit to Greenland as "a democratic influence campaign". Photo: Thøger Andersen

But you're undermining Trump's policies, aren't you?

- Ha ha, yes. But then. These people don't see Trump's politics as democratic, says Jacob Kaarsbo.

On the other hand, the six Americans also have another agenda: to use the dispute over Greenland to overthrow Trump's majority in Congress.

Another member of the group in Nuuk is a former intelligence officer in the US military, Malcolm Nance, who has also been a volunteer soldier in Ukraine. Photo: Private photo

According to the Save America Movement, they are well on their way to raising $100 million to get more Democrats elected in the November midterm elections . And here, the media campaign from Greenland can be used to turn more Americans against Trump, says Mary Corcoran.

"The Republican Party is going downhill with Trump. And I think there's a possibility that the Democrats will win both houses of Congress. Americans are deeply, deeply unhappy with the consequences of Trump's policies," she says.

Former military pilot, Democratic politician and veterans advocate, Ken Harbaugh is part of the group of Americans in Nuuk Photo: Youtube

After Greenland, she and several others from the Save America Movement will travel on to Denmark. Here they plan to participate in the protest march on Saturday against Trump's statements about the Danish soldiers' efforts in Afghanistan.

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