It's no secret President Donald Trump has problems being told no.
Especially being told no by a woman.
He admitted getting consent from women was an issue for him in a hot mic moment on Access Hollywood, after all.
But unfortunately for the United States, world leaders have to hear no from time to time. And unlike the USA, some countries have female heads of state.
So when Trump got an idea to buy a country (Greenland) and its citizens (Greenlanders) that were never for sale from a country (Denmark) that never mentioned an interest in selling, the scheme seemed absurd to pretty much everyone but Trump and both countries responded accordingly.
Colonialism is so done, dude.
But it required Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to tell Trump no. She also opted for honesty.
It went as well as can be expected.
Frederiksen said:
"Greenland is not for sale. I strongly hope that this is not meant seriously."
She added:
"Thankfully, the time where you buy and sell other countries and populations is over."
"Let's leave it there."
Yes, European nations and their colonies invaded, bought and sold inhabited land to each other with no regard for the inhabitants for several centuries. But just like manifest destiny, we don't do that anymore.
The President of the United States decided to be professional and diplomatic in his response.
Just kidding.
He canceled a state visit to Denmark—his first—slated for September and having been coordinated well before an off the cuff quip by a dinner guest gave him the I should buy Greenland idea. Trump took to Twitter, of course, to claim the trip was canceled because Frederiksen would not discuss the sale.
Completely glossed over the facts about the purpose of the visit, but not too bad a response. Then a reporter asked Trump about the canceled state visit and...
People found Trump's claims light on facts and inappropriate. Calling an absurd idea that comes out of nowhere absurd is hardly the worst thing said about Trump's Greenland scheme.
Absurd is mild compared to what people in the United States said about it.
Frederiksen has not responded to Trump's attack.
It's probably best to ignore it anyway.
The 2020 presidential election is 438 days away. This shirt is available here.
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