BERLIN, GERMANY – In a moment that blended high art with high-stakes international politics, acclaimed Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård did not mince words when addressing the escalating diplomatic friction surrounding President Donald Trump's reported desire to acquire the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland. Speaking at the winners’ press conference following the 38th European Film Awards in Berlin, Skarsgård, who had just secured the Best Actor award, characterized the situation as bordering on the unbelievable.
The Geopolitical Spat Takes Center Stage
The controversy erupted when reports surfaced detailing the U.S. administration's interest in purchasing Greenland, an event that sent shockwaves across Europe and drew immediate condemnation from Denmark and its Nordic neighbors. For Skarsgård, whose home country of Sweden is closely allied with Denmark, the issue transcended mere political maneuvering; it felt like a descent into global farce.
“You want us to comment on what’s happening in Greenland?” Skarsgård reportedly asked the assembled press before launching into a characteristically forthright reply. “It’s absurd, isn’t it? It’s a little man who got megalomania, and he’s trying to take the world. He took Venezuela, suddenly, and that’s for Chevron. He’ll take Greenland for minerals. He’s a criminal.”
Skarsgård’s sharp commentary directly linked Trump’s purported interest in the vast Arctic territory—rich in untapped mineral resources—to broader geopolitical ambitions, drawing parallels to recent U.S. actions in South America. This sentiment was echoed by Norwegian director Joachim Trier, whose film Sentimental Value swept several top prizes at the ceremony. Both artists, representing nations geographically and culturally intertwined with Greenland, voiced deep concern over the perceived heavy-handedness of the U.S. approach.
Tariffs and Tensions Escalate
The diplomatic standoff intensified dramatically as the European Film Awards unfolded. President Trump announced plans to impose 25% trade tariffs on a host of European nations, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland, should a deal for Greenland not materialize. Denmark and the European Union immediately labeled the threats “unacceptable” and tantamount to economic “blackmail,” prompting the EU to schedule an emergency meeting.
Greenland, home to approximately 57,000 residents, predominantly Indigenous Inuit, operates under the Danish Self-Government Act of 2008, granting it significant autonomy. While the U.S. has framed its interest in Greenland as a strategic necessity amid growing competition from China and Russia in the Arctic, critics argue the focus is squarely on securing vital mineral wealth.
A Thousand Years of Connection
The connection between Denmark, Norway, and Greenland stretches back over a millennium. Although Denmark has a complicated colonial history with the territory—formally integrating it into the Danish state in 1953—recent years have seen efforts toward reconciliation and increased local self-determination. The current local sentiment in Greenland is overwhelmingly against any sale or annexation by the U.S., evidenced by protests in Nuuk and Copenhagen.
The juxtaposition of this serious geopolitical crisis with the glamour of an international film awards ceremony highlighted the pervasive nature of current global politics. While Skarsgård, fresh off his Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actor, offered the most pointed critique, Trier, known for his humanist cinematic approach, offered a more measured, though still concerned, response.
The Artist's Role in Political Discourse
For many artists, particularly those representing smaller nations directly impacted by the machinations of global superpowers, speaking out is a professional and moral imperative. Skarsgård’s candid remarks serve as a powerful reminder that cultural figures are often on the front lines of expressing national sentiment when political dialogue becomes strained.
“It’s a little man who got megalomania,” Skarsgård reiterated, his words cutting through the celebratory atmosphere. In a political climate marked by volatility, the unexpected commentary from one of Scandinavia’s most respected actors provided a stark, unforgettable moment at the European Film Awards, ensuring that the conversation about Greenland—and the nature of international power—would continue well beyond Berlin.
The controversy underscores a growing tension between established democratic norms and unilateral geopolitical maneuvering, resonating deeply within the European film community which often champions sovereignty and human dignity.
