Ivan Hansen, a 67-year-old retired Danish police officer, has become part of a growing movement in Europe and Canada to boycott U.S. products. In an effort to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies, which he views as aggressive and threatening, Hansen meticulously avoids American brands while shopping, opting for products like dates from Iran instead.
Hansen is particularly incensed by Trump's threats to seize territories like Greenland and the Panama Canal, as well as his alleged ties with figures like Elon Musk, who has been criticized for his far-right associations. "Trump really looks like a bully who tries in every way to intimidate," Hansen commented, pledging to fight against such behavior.
This sentiment of anger and protest is echoed across Denmark and has spurred a boycott movement that is being facilitated by social media platforms like Facebook. Groups are being formed to discuss alternative products to replace American goods. The movement seems strongest in the Nordic region, particularly in Denmark, following Trump's remarks concerning Greenland.
Google trends indicate a notable increase in searches for "Boycott USA" and "Boycott America," particularly coinciding with the announcement of new tariffs by Trump. Reports show a drop in sales for American brands such as Tesla, with incidents of vandalism also reported, such as the burning of four Tesla cars in Germany.
Elsebeth Pedersen, a resident of Faaborg, Denmark, emphasized her commitment to avoiding American vehicles, stating that before Musk's controversial actions, a Tesla would have been an option. French entrepreneur Romain Roy echoed this sentiment, explaining how he canceled his Tesla order in protest of Trump's policies, which he perceives as isolationist.
Denmark's largest supermarket chain, Salling Group, has introduced a new label to mark European goods, responding to consumer demand for alternatives to American products. CEO Anders Hagh clarified that this move is not a boycott but rather a service to facilitate the shoppers’ desires for European goods.
The discontent among Danes has reached a high point, with individuals like Bo Albertus noting that Trump’s military threats were too much to bear. He has replaced popular American products with European alternatives and is now an administrator of a Facebook group "Boykot varer fra USA" (Boycott goods from the U.S.), which has grown to over 80,000 members.
Jens Olsen, another concerned citizen, plans to replace over $10,000 worth of U.S.-made tools despite the cost. Despite being a dual citizen of Denmark and the U.S., he expresses anger over Trump's policies, stating he has never seen "Danes so upset." Michael Ramgil Stæhr, who has canceled a trip to the U.S., attributed his decision to Trump's remarks about acquiring Greenland, describing the president as "deadly dangerous."
The boycott movement extends to other countries as well, with French farmer Edouard Roussez forming a Facebook group titled "Boycott USA, Buy French and European!" which attracted over 20,000 members within two weeks. Roussez views the boycott as a way to oppose Trump's policies, particularly towards Europe. Interestingly, his group utilizes Facebook, an American platform, for outreach, showcasing the irony of leveraging U.S. resources to resist U.S. influence.
Some participants have also initiated boycotts against American services like Netflix. Simon Madsen described the difficulty his family faces in giving up beloved snacks and streaming services, highlighting the challenges of navigating boycotts. Nevertheless, he believes in the importance of consumer power to enact change, stating, "It’s the only weapon we’ve got."
