Acclaimed Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård has launched a scathing attack on former US President Donald Trump, labelling his attempts to acquire Greenland as the actions of a "little megalomaniac" and branding him a "criminal".
‘A Little Man with Megalomania’: Skarsgård’s Scathing Critique
The veteran performer, a frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Sentimental Value, made the remarks while speaking to Deadline at the European Film Awards over the weekend. Skarsgård did not mince words, describing Trump's geopolitical manoeuvres as "absurd".
"It's absurd, isn't it?" Skarsgård stated. "It's a little man who got megalomania, and he's trying to take the world." The actor pointed to Trump's involvement in Venezuela, suggesting it was motivated by oil interests, and drew a parallel with Greenland. "He took Venezuela, suddenly, and that's for Chevron. He'll take Greenland for minerals. He's a criminal," Skarsgård asserted.
Cultural Figures Unite in Condemnation
Skarsgård's criticism echoes sentiments expressed by other prominent Nordic artists. Icelandic singer Björk, who like Skarsgård has collaborated with director Lars von Trier, also voiced strong opposition to Trump's ambitions and criticised Denmark's historical role.
On social media, Björk expressed solidarity with Greenlanders, writing: "I wish all Greenlanders blessing in their fight for independence." She reflected on Iceland's own break from Denmark in 1944, adding, "Colonialism has repeatedly given me horror chills up my back, and the chance that my fellow Greenlanders might go from one cruel coloniser to another is too brutal to even imagine."
The controversy stems from Trump's posts on his Truth Social platform, where he called for the "complete and total purchase" of Greenland and threatened EU nations with financial tariffs if they deployed troops in opposition. Greenland is a self-governing territory, but Denmark manages its defence and foreign policy.
Skarsgård's Personal and Professional Journey
The actor, who is still recovering from a stroke, plays an ailing film director in Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value. In a lighter note, he recently revealed to People magazine that plans are underway for a second Mamma Mia! sequel which would resurrect Meryl Streep's character. "A lot of people are working on it," he confirmed.
The strong reactions from figures like Skarsgård and Björk highlight the deep cultural and political concerns in the Nordic region regarding sovereignty, colonialism, and the unpredictable nature of Trump's foreign policy legacy.
