Donald Trump Jr.’s recent trip to Greenland is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. While he proudly posted photos of what he called “MAGA supporters,” it turns out many of them weren’t supporters at all—they were unhoused and struggling locals offered free food and a hotel stay if they posed for pictures, according to a report by Danish media outlet DR News.
Trump Jr. visited Greenland this week after his father, president-elect Donald Trump, made waves by suggesting the U.S. should buy the island, even though officials have repeatedly said it’s not for sale.
During the visit, Trump Jr.’s team handed out MAGA hats near Brugseni, a grocery store in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, and invited people to a free lunch at Hotel Hans Egede. According to DR News, many of the people seen dining with Trump Jr. were elderly, unhoused, or otherwise struggling residents.
Tom Amtoft, a Nuuk local who has lived there for nearly 30 years, recognized several faces in the photos. “These are people who don’t have much,” he said. “All they had to do was wear a hat and be in some videos for Trump’s team. It’s distasteful.”
After the visit, Trump Jr. claimed Greenlanders “love America and Trump.” But locals told a different story, with Brugseni employees and longtime residents confirming that the people in the photos were not political supporters—they were simply offered a meal and a warm place to stay.
This awkward photo-op adds another bizarre twist to Trump’s Greenland saga. His father’s repeated calls to buy the island have been met with firm rejections from Greenlandic and Danish officials. Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said this week that Greenland is “not for sale” and has widespread support for remaining independent.
Even so, Trump has continued to push his idea, claiming on Truth Social that owning Greenland is critical for “national security and freedom throughout the world.” He even refused to rule out military action when questioned during a press conference.
While Trump Jr.’s team hasn’t commented on the report, the photos from his trip leave an impression that’s hard to shake. What was meant to show enthusiastic support for the Trumps instead highlights the lengths his team will go to create the appearance of popularity—by using people who were just looking for a warm meal.
