Danish Veterans Protest at U.S. Embassy Over Trump Remarks
Hundreds of Danish veterans staged a silent protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen and planted 52 flags naming fallen service members.
Overview
Hundreds of Danish veterans staged a silent protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen and planted 52 flags bearing the names of service members killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, organizers said.
The demonstration was triggered by President Donald Trump's Davos remarks that NATO forces 'stayed a little back' and by the administration's suggestion the U.S. pursue Greenland, veterans said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Trump's Davos comments 'insulting and frankly appalling,' and Donald Trump defended allied soldiers in a Truth Social post, according to public statements.
Organizers said hundreds of veterans and thousands of supporters attended, and they highlighted that 44 Danish soldiers were killed in Afghanistan and eight in Iraq, with Denmark's population just over 6 million as of 2025.
Tensions escalated after embassy staff removed an earlier display of 44 flags; the U.S. State Department said guard staff routinely remove items left at demonstrations and returned the flags to their owners, organizers said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story by foregrounding veterans' emotions and sacrifices through vivid scene-setting (flags planted, tears) and repeated emphasis on betrayal and casualties, while giving limited space to U.S. officials' responses. Editorial choices—language emphasis, selection of veteran voices, and organizational focus—privilege the Danish veterans' perspective over countervailing views.
Sources (4)
FAQ
Trump's Davos remarks that NATO forces 'stayed a little back' during fights in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his push for the U.S. to acquire Greenland from Denmark.
44 Danish soldiers died in Afghanistan and 8 in Iraq, totaling 52, which is the highest per capita death toll for a NATO country in Afghanistan given Denmark's population of just over 6 million.
Hundreds of Danish veterans staged a silent protest, marched from Kastellet fortress to the U.S. Embassy, observed five minutes of silence, and planted 52 flags bearing the names of fallen service members.
Keir Starmer called Trump's Davos comments 'insulting and frankly appalling'; Trump defended UK soldiers on Truth Social but did not acknowledge other NATO troops' sacrifices.
Embassy staff removed an earlier display of 44 flags as routine for demonstration items, and returned them to the owners, which escalated tensions among veterans.
History
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