Danes in Copenhagen voiced alarm and anger on Monday (January 5) at repeated suggestions by U.S. President Donald Trump that the United States could seek to take control of Greenland, with people saying the idea was "absurd" and "madness".

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One early on Monday, Trump said he would revisit the topic in a few weeks.

A 31-year-old psychotherapy student, Johanne Knudsen, said it was important to keep pushing back.

An HR coordinator, Feitsma, 32, said she agreed with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's position after she said on Sunday that U.S. comments about needing to take over Greenland made "absolutely no sense".

But she also said Denmark needed to have its own debate with the Greenlandic people about sovereignty.

In April last year the Arctic island's incoming prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said Greenland will strengthen its ties with Denmark until it can become a sovereign nation, noting that the semi-autonomous Danish territory ultimately wants to become independent.

Denmark's Frederiksen said on Monday that she believes Trump is serious about wanting to take over Greenland, that both Denmark and Greenland have clearly rejected his ambition and that "if the United States attacks another NATO country, everything stops."

Greenland's strategic location between Europe and North America makes it a critical site for the U.S. ballistic missile defence system. The island's significant mineral resources also align with Washington's ambition to reduce dependence on Chinese exports.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. PEOPLE WALKING BY STORES

2. BAGS OUTSIDE OF SHOP, STORE FRONT IN THE BACKGROUND

3. EXTERIORS OF A STORE

4. (SOUNDBITE)(English) PSYCHOTHERAPY STUDENT, JOHANNE KNUDSEN, 31, SAYING:

“My thought about Trump just wanting to take over Greenland is absurd. It's absurd. And I think he's the archetype of greed, and we need to push back, let him know that this is not, this is not for him. And, yeah, it's just madness.”

5. OUTDOOR CAFE

6. (SOUNDBITE)(English) PSYCHOTHERAPY STUDENT, JOHANNE KNUDSEN, 31, SAYING:

“I think we have a big responsibility to push back and to let him (U.S. President Donald Trump) know that this is not something that he can just own, he can just possess. I think we're doing a lot of things to prevent it. But I'm not sure if it's enough.”

7. CAR AND BICYCLE PASSING BY

8. (SOUNDBITE)(English) STUDENT, CECILIE FROST ANDERSEN, 23, SAYING:

“I think that it is terrible that he keeps on threatening about invading Greenland, as it's a part of Denmark and it is its own country. So I don't think the U.S. has anything to do with that. Yeah, well, that's my thoughts. I think he should leave them alone for their own country.”

9. PEOPLE WALKING BY IN COMMERCIAL AREA

10. (SOUNDBITE)(English) HR COORDINATOR FEITSMA, (SURNAME NOT GIVEN), 32, SAYING:

“I think it's crazy, I think it's something that just seems totally unreasonable from the U.S. side. And I'm not sure why they think that they can just start going around and buying other people's land, from them or taking other people's land. I think it's a discussion that is interesting because it also opens up for us in Denmark looking at how we view Greenland and our ownership of Greenland as well. In my opinion, it belongs to the Aboriginal people who live there. And it belongs to them and the Greenlandic people and the Greenlandic culture. It seems kind of silly that there's these two other nations going around fighting for control of the country for purposes that have nothing to do with Greenland itself.”

11. PERSON WALKING DOGS IN SNOWY STREET

12. (SOUNDBITE)(English) HR COORDINATOR FEITSMA, (SURNAME NOT GIVEN), 32, SAYING:

“I think the reaction from Denmark is appropriate. It's good that we're setting a foot down and saying a firm no. I think it's hard, of course. In the beginning, everyone kind of chuckled and laughed and thought it was a silly proposal, and nothing would come of it. But it's good that we're taking it more seriously now. As long as it keeps and continues to involve the Greenlandic people and their autonomy, is at the forefront, then I think we're handling it quite well. “

13. VARIOUS VIEWS OF COPENHAGEN STREETS

14. VARIOUS DANISH FLAG FLYING