Municipality announces meeting with strong Trump support

This weekend, the Danish media Finans reported on a previously unknown meeting between the American tycoon and Trump supporter Ronald Lauder and the mayor of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq, Avaaraq Olsen (IA).

Ronald Lauder is particularly interesting, as he has been described by several media outlets as the man who originally gave Donald Trump the idea that the United States should buy Greenland.

According to Finans, the meeting between the mayor and Ronald Louder took place in Nuuk, and in addition to the mayor and Lauder, municipal director Ole Jakobsen and Lauder's business partner Josette Sheeran were also present.

- Part of the mayor's work

Sermitsiaq has asked Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq for an interview about the matter with Mayor Avaaraq Olsen. This is not possible, as the mayor has gone on leave due to family illness.

However, the municipality has sent a written response, and it states that it was a courtesy visit, which is part of the mayor's work.

According to the municipality, such meetings are a natural part of the mayor's work to represent the municipality and be in contact with the outside world:

"Following the press coverage of a meeting between the mayor of Nuuk and American businessman Ronald Lauder, it can be stated that the meeting was a short courtesy visit of approximately half an hour in duration," the municipality writes and continues:

"The meeting took place based on an inquiry with a desire for dialogue, in line with the general practice for the mayor's calendar."

- Meetings do not imply endorsement of views

The municipality emphasizes in its response that meetings of this nature are informal and do not involve the treatment of specific political matters or decision-making, and therefore no minutes are kept.

Sermitsiaq has asked in writing what the mayor thinks about Ronald Lauder being described as the person who gave Donald Trump the idea of ​​buying Greenland, and whether the mayor has any reservations about meeting a person with these intentions?

To this, the municipality responds:

"It should be pointed out that a meeting does not in itself imply endorsement of the views or interests that the visitor represents. The municipality's decisions are made on an informed basis and within the applicable democratic framework."

Has invested in Greenlandic companies

Ronald Lauder has not only held meetings in Greenland. He has also invested in, among other things, the company Greenland Waterbank through a company together with Josette Sheeran, who also participated in the meeting in Nuuk.

Co-owner of the company Jørgen Wæver Johansen has previously denied that the American investors are a problem in light of Trump's pressure to take over Greenland.

– I think there are people trying to create a story out of nothing here. We are a small water company that has finally found some partners. You have to remember that many large Danish companies also have American owners, Jørgen Wæver Johansen told Sermitsiaq back in December.