Stellan Skarsgård Condemns Trump’s Greenland Demands as ‘Absurd’ at European Film Awards

Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump over his escalating standoff with Europe regarding Greenland, calling the idea of the United States acquiring the territory “absurd.”

Skarsgård addressed the issue during the winners’ press conference at the European Film Awards in Berlin on Saturday night, where he won Best Actor. He was joined by Norwegian director Joachim Trier, whose drama Sentimental Value swept several top honors, including Best Director.

Asked to comment on Trump’s demand that Greenland be handed over to the U.S., Skarsgård did not hold back.

“It’s absurd,” he said, describing Trump as driven by power and self-interest. Skarsgård suggested the U.S. president’s ambitions were linked to access to natural resources, referencing recent geopolitical developments involving Venezuela and the interests of American energy companies.

Trump has argued that acquiring Greenland is necessary for U.S. national security, citing concerns about growing Chinese and Russian influence in the Arctic. Critics in Europe, however, say the push is more closely tied to Greenland’s untapped mineral resources. The island is home to about 57,000 people, most of them Indigenous Inuit, and has been self-governing since Denmark passed the Self-Government Act in 2008.

Tensions rose further on Saturday when Trump announced he would impose 25% trade tariffs on Denmark and several other European countries—including Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland—if a deal over Greenland was not reached. Denmark and its allies rejected the threats, calling them “unacceptable” and likening them to political blackmail. The European Union is set to hold an emergency meeting in response.

Denmark has maintained that Greenland is not for sale. While the country’s colonial history in the territory has been widely criticized, Copenhagen has taken steps in recent decades to acknowledge past abuses and expand Greenland’s autonomy. Recent protests in both Greenland and Denmark suggest there is little public support for joining the United States.

Trier offered a more measured response but agreed with Skarsgård’s core assessment. He warned that attempts to appropriate territory undermine international law and risk destabilizing global relations.

“Europe knows the cost of colonialism,” Trier said. “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders. Ignoring international law would have dangerous domino effects on how powerful nations treat smaller ones.”

The awards ceremony unfolded amid heightened political tension in Europe, fueled by Trump’s economic and military rhetoric, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the rise of nationalist politics across the continent. These developments have also raised concerns about the future of public funding for arts and culture.

In his Best Director acceptance speech, Trier emphasized the unifying power of cinema, urging empathy in divisive times. The evening also featured remarks from Norwegian screen legend Liv Ullmann, who took a subtle jab at Trump while accepting her Lifetime Achievement Award.

As global politics increasingly spill into cultural spaces, Saturday night’s European Film Awards highlighted how artists continue to use international platforms to speak out on issues far beyond the screen.