Danish traveler Kennet Brask cherished his fishing trip to Florida two years ago and was eager to return. However, after witnessing U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements regarding Greenland in 2019, he decided to cancel his plans.
“When I heard about his comments on Greenland, I told myself, ‘I’m not going to the United States as long as Mr. Trump is president,'” Brask shared with reporters. He felt that the president’s remarks were inappropriate and disrespectful to Denmark.
Brask is not alone. Many Europeans reconsidered their travel plans to the U.S. in response to Trump’s policies and rhetoric, which they found troubling. According to news reports at the time, there was a growing sentiment of dissatisfaction among European travelers.
In 2019, Trump expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. The suggestion was met with disapproval in Denmark and Greenland, with many considering it an affront to their sovereignty. Danish citizen Kim Kugel Sørensen canceled a planned trip to California and even removed the stars and stripes from a tattoo to avoid appearing pro-American.
Surveys conducted among European respondents indicated that Trump’s “America First” policy impacted U.S.-Europe relations, with trust in the U.S. declining among its traditional allies. Many Europeans criticized the policy for disregarding the interests of other nations.
According to European Union figures from that period, Europeans spent billions on travel to the U.S. each year. However, travel agents and data firms noted a downturn in bookings and searches for trips from Europe to the U.S. during Trump’s presidency.
“We decided not to invest in marketing tours to the USA due to a lack of client interest and the current political situation,” said Steen Albrechtsen, a senior product manager at Albatros Travel in Copenhagen.
The impact of these cancellations went beyond tourism, reflecting broader concerns about international relations and mutual respect among nations.
