Denmark tentative following Trump triumph

From “horror scenario” to “unpredictable”, Danish politicians weigh in on US election drama

Following the news this morning that Donald Trump will become the 45th president of the United States, a blurry-eyed Denmark is coming to terms with the historic vote.

Considering that just 5 percent of Danes believed Trump would win the election, the shock in Denmark was palpable – not one of the nine Parliamentary parties wanted Trump to win, and their response to his triumph reflects that.

Mogens Lykketoft, the ex-president of the United Nations General Assembly and former foreign minister of Denmark, told CPH POST at the US Embassy’s breakfast-time election press conference that the Trump victory indicates “we are heading into a more unsafe period because we just don’t know what he might do”.

“From what he’s said on the campaign trail, he is opposed to any movement on climate change, may start a trade war on China, and won’t join hands with Europe to oppose Putin,” he continued.

“It is very worrying. The hope is that there will be checks and balances, but even without having majorities in the houses, Trump can still push through a lot of legislation by executive order.”

Government party Venstre was more diplomatic in its remarks, citing that Denmark would remain a close friend to the US, although it remains to be seen how Trump’s foreign affairs policy will impact relations.

“We will always aim to have a relationship that is as close as possible with whoever the president of the US is,” Michael Aastrup Jensen, the spokesperson for foreign affairs for Venstre, told TV2 News.

“We know that Donald Trump will start some form of co-operation with Russia, which no-one in Europe believes in. We also know that he has said he will annihilate the terror organisation Islamic State. What that means, we don’t know, as he has yet to convey that plan.”

READ MORE: US Presidential Election Live: Trump declared winner

Unpredictable future
Meanwhile, Nick Hækkerup, the spokesperson for foreign affairs for Socialdemokratiet, called Trump’s win “problematic”, citing there was good reason to feel more insecure today than was the case yesterday.

Right wing party Dansk Folkeparti (DF) hopes Trump will come around, despite a number of “unsettling” statements – such as building a wall on the border with Mexico.

“It’s very unpredictable,” Søren Espersen, a spokesperson for foreign affairs for DF, told TV2 News.

“I think he will try to approach Russia and demand that western European nations move with spending the 2 percent of GDP on defence, as we have promised to do. He’s said a lot of stupid things – such as building a wall on the border with Mexico – but I think he will come around to reality.”

Liberal Alliance concurred that the future is up in the air and hopes that the US officials will be able to prevent any “major disasters”.

Socialistisk Folkeparti was more dramatic in describing its dismay, with its spokesperson for foreign affairs, Holger K Nielsen, saying that Denmark should rethink its foreign affairs policy so it is no longer tied to the US.

“Donald Trump is a horror scenario that has now become a reality. He is a loose cannon,” Nielsen told TV2 News regarding Trump.

“It will be very dangerous having him as president.”

TOP STORIES

  • Doctors request opioids in smaller packs as over-prescription wakes abuse concerns

    Doctors request opioids in smaller packs as over-prescription wakes abuse concerns

    Doctors, pharmacies and politicians have voiced concern that the pharmaceutical industry’s inability to supply opioid prescriptions in smaller packets, and the resulting over-prescription of addictive morphine pills, could spur levels of opioid abuse in Denmark.

  • Housing in Copenhagen – it runs in the family

    Housing in Copenhagen – it runs in the family

    Residents of cooperative housing associations in Copenhagen and in Frederiksberg distribute vacant housing to their own family members to a large extent. More than one in six residents have either parents, siblings, adult children or other close family living in the same cooperative housing association.

  • State pool for coastal protection financing inundated with applications

    State pool for coastal protection financing inundated with applications

    11 applicants sought state funding of over one billion kroner each for critical coastal protection projects, but the subsidy pool only contains 150 million kroner. Denmark’s municipalities say the government needs to provide more financing.

  • Safety concerns at Jewish school after nearby explosions in Israeli embassy area

    Safety concerns at Jewish school after nearby explosions in Israeli embassy area

    In the early hours of October 2, two hand grenades were detonated near Denmark’s Israeli Embassy in Hellerup, just outside Copenhagen. While nobody was injured, the attack has raised safety concerns at the local Jewish school, which chose to close that day, and is operating with police security. The Copenhagen Post spoke to the father of a child who attends the Jewish school, who shared his thoughts on raising his daughter in this climate.

  • Denmark postpones green hydrogen transmission rollout to Germany to 2031

    Denmark postpones green hydrogen transmission rollout to Germany to 2031

    Denmark will postpone its rollout of the first cross-border green hydrogen pipeline between western Denmark and northern Germany by three years from 2028 to 2031, as production stumbles over technical, market and permit complexities.

  • Overview: Denmark’s upcoming education system reform

    Overview: Denmark’s upcoming education system reform

    The Danish government yesterday presented its proposals for an education system reform, including scrapping 10th grade, introducing tougher admission requirements, and opening 400 new international degree-level study places in the STEM fields.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of September, The Copenhagen Post will be at International Citizen Days in Øksnehallen on Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Admission is free and thousands of internationals are expected to attend

  • Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.

  • Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality, home to Denmark’s largest infrastructure project – the Fehmarnbelt tunnel connection to Germany – has launched a new jobseeker support package for the accompanying partners of international employees in the area. The job-to-partner package offers free tailored sessions on finding a job and starting a personal business.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs