Thousands March Silently in Copenhagen to Honour Veterans After Trump's Remarks

An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 individuals joined a heartfelt silent procession in Copenhagen on Saturday. The march was orchestrated by Denmark’s Veterans’ Association as a protest against remarks by US President Donald Trump, which were interpreted as a belittling of the efforts by non-US NATO forces in Afghanistan.

The association had initially anticipated a turnout of just over a thousand participants. However, a significant number of Danes braved sub-zero temperatures to show solidarity with veterans and to remember the 44 Danish military personnel who lost their lives in Afghanistan. Law enforcement authorities informed AFP that the crowd was estimated to be "at least 10,000," with organisers providing a figure between 8,000 and 10,000.

President Trump ignited anger in Denmark and across Europe on January 22 when he suggested that European NATO soldiers had "stayed a little back, a little off the front lines" during the two-decade-long conflict in Afghanistan. Denmark had actively participated alongside US forces not only in Afghanistan but also in operations such as the Gulf War and the Iraq War.

The march commenced at Copenhagen's Kastellet, where a brief ceremony took place at the monument dedicated to fallen soldiers. Following this, participants proceeded in silence towards the US embassy, located approximately two kilometres away.

"The demonstration is called #NoWords because that really describes how we feel. We have no words," stated the association’s vice president, Soren Knudsen, in an interview with AFP. He added, "Obviously, we also want to tell Americans that what Trump said is an insult to us and the values that we defended together."

Some attendees carried Danish flags in red and white, while others wore military attire. The procession maintained complete silence, devoid of any slogans or chants. Many participants appeared visibly moved and solemn.

"We're very happy that so many people turned out," Knudsen commented outside the US embassy, noting the presence of veterans from the United States and other European nations who also joined the march.

"What Trump said was very insulting," remarked Henning Andersen, a 64-year-old former Danish UN soldier who served in Cyprus. "I have friends who were down there. Some of them were wounded, and they carry the war with them even today. He’s saying things he doesn’t know the full truth about."

Orum, a 58-year-old member of Denmark’s home guard who requested her full name not be published, also condemned the president's statements. "How can he even say that? It’s insulting," she said, wearing her khaki fatigues and a green beret.

At the forefront of the procession, demonstrators carried a large red banner bearing the inscription "NoWords." Others held handmade signs, with one reading, "Trump is so dumb," and another, carried by a child, pleaded, "Say sorry, Trump."

Earlier in the week, 44 Danish flags, each inscribed with the names of soldiers killed in Afghanistan, were placed in planters outside the US embassy as a direct response to Trump's comments. The embassy initially removed the flags, later issuing an apology and reinstating them.

"We have nothing but the deepest respect for Danish veterans and the sacrifices Danish soldiers have made for our shared security. There was no ill intent behind the removal of the flags," the embassy stated in a Facebook post. It further explained that the planters were embassy property and that the initial placement of the flags had not been coordinated.

On Friday, January 30, the US ambassador personally placed 44 Danish flags in the flowerbeds. The following day, Saturday, January 31, an additional 52 flags were added, with names inscribed: 44 for those lost in Afghanistan and eight for Danish soldiers who died in Iraq. A minute of silence was also observed in front of the embassy, and one participant laid down a wreath of red and white flowers.

Denmark has consistently referred to the United States as its "closest ally" and remains a strong partner, notwithstanding recent diplomatic friction stemming from Trump's expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, a self- governing Danish territory.