If you thought the red baseball cap was exclusively a symbol of Donald Trump’s political rallies, think again. Residents of Nuuk, Greenland, and Copenhagen, Denmark, are flipping the script—literally. In a viral display of political irony that has taken social media by storm this week, thousands of protesters are donning familiar bright red hats with a white serif font. But instead of the expected slogan, these caps read: “Make America Go Away.”
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The protests kicked off in earnest around January 17, following President Trump’s renewed and intensified push to acquire Greenland. While the geopolitical stakes are high—with Trump threatening tariffs on NATO allies who stand in his way—the Scandinavian response has been characteristically dry and humorous. The visual impact of thousands of Danes and Greenlanders wearing what looks like MAGA gear, only to reveal a message of rejection close-up, has been labeled “viral gold” by internet commentators.
The mastermind behind the viral headwear is Jesper Rabe Tønnesen, a vintage clothing store owner in Copenhagen. Tønnesen, who runs the shop McKorman, told reporters he wanted to "communicate in a funny way with a good message." What started as a small batch of 100 hats exploded into a global phenomenon, selling out instantly and spawning bootleg versions across Europe.
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While “Make America Go Away” is the headline-grabber for English speakers, the hats feature a clever double entendre for locals. Many caps also bear the slogan “Nu det NUUK!” This is a play on the common Danish phrase “Nu det nok,” which translates to “Now it’s enough.” By swapping in “Nuuk,” the capital of Greenland, protesters are signaling that their patience with the purchase offers has officially run dry.
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The resurgence of this drama began earlier this month when President Trump took to Truth Social to declare that acquiring the Arctic island was "vital to national security" and suggested he would secure the territory "one way or the other." Unlike his 2019 attempt, the 2026 strategy has included threats of heavy tariffs on Denmark and other European allies if they block the deal.
“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,” Tønnesen explained in an interview. The escalation has unified Danish and Greenlandic citizens, who turned out in freezing temperatures to march from Copenhagen City Hall to the U.S. Embassy, chanting “Greenland is not for sale.”
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Social media users have dubbed the movement a masterclass in peaceful, humorous protest. Images of snowy Nuuk streets filled with the red caps have trended globally, with hashtags like #MakeAmericaGoAway and #GreenlandIsNotForSale dominating X (formerly Twitter). The irony of using Trump’s own branding aesthetic to reject his policies has resonated far beyond the Arctic Circle.
One viral tweet summed up the mood: "Greenland didn't just reject the offer; they stole the merch rights." The protest has become a trending LOL news story, providing a moment of levity amidst tense diplomatic standoff.
Local Voices: “We Are Not For Sale”
Despite the humor, the sentiment on the ground is serious. Lars Hermansen, a 76-year-old protester in Copenhagen, was spotted wearing one of the caps. “I want to show my support to Greenland and also show that I don’t like the president of the United States,” he told reporters. The message is clear: Greenlanders view themselves as a distinct people with a right to self-determination, not a real estate asset to be traded.
As the standoff continues, the "Make America Go Away" hats have cemented their place in the history of political satire. Whether they will actually deter the White House remains to be seen, but they have certainly succeeded in making the world laugh—and listen.
