Greenlanders dismiss American’s $200,000 offer to join the US

Residents in Nuuk have reacted with disbelief and frustration after an 86-year-old American offered Greenlanders $200,000 each to support US annexation of the territory, reports Danish broadcaster DR.

Cliff Stanley, a retiree from Nevada, has spent recent days in the Greenlandic capital attempting to gather signatures from locals willing to back a proposal for Greenland to become part of the United States. In exchange, he claims, each signer would receive $200,000 (around 1.7 million Danish kroner) from the US government.

Reactions on the streets of Nuuk have ranged from bewilderment to anger. “How are we supposed to respond to something like this? I find it very confusing,” said Bodil Davidsen. Laannguaq Lynge, a former mayor of Nuuk, was more blunt: “How stupid can you be? To think people can just be paid to switch countries.”

Stanley told DR that only three people had signed his petition, with most rejecting his approach. He claimed his actions were meant to support his country and president, though he admitted no direct connection to US President Trump, who previously expressed interest in “buying” Greenland.

DR’s correspondent Cecilie Kallestrup described Stanley as “not 100 percent clear” on his own plan, noting his age and the disorganized nature of his effort. Despite this, his presence has sparked widespread discussion, with social media posts about his activities shared hundreds of times. The controversy even prompted Greenland’s premier, Jens Frederik Nielsen, to reaffirm that “Greenland is not for sale.”

Local resident Svend Christensen dismissed the offer as “ridiculous,” calling it “a scam.” Others, like Davidsen, expressed sympathy for Stanley’s age while still rejecting his proposal. “I also think it’s quite brave of him to walk around here, where many might take action against him,” she added.

Christensen’s message to Stanley was simple: “Stay home. He shouldn’t be running around here.”

The incident echoes a January controversy when a German comedian, dressed as an American, attempted to raise the US flag outside Nuuk’s cultural center—an act that also provoked outrage among Greenlanders.