U.S. embassy in Copenhagen restores Danish flags after public outrage

Danes were outraged by the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen after it removed flags outside the building in late January—flags that honored 44 Danish soldiers who fought in Afghanistan. 

Danes have since put Danish flags in front of the embassy building in protest. 

“It’s ridiculous, honestly, and I’d imagine how angry Danish people must feel,” Margo Wong, a 23-year-old Chinese exchange student studying in Copenhagen, said.

The Danish Veteran Association criticized the embassy’s actions in a Facebook post on January 28, calling the move “unnecessary and insensitive.” 

Chairman of the association, Carsten Rasmussen, said in the same post, “When they go low, we go high.” 

According to the association, the January Veterans of Denmark and the embassy agreed that the flags would be removed after January 31.

However, as of Thursday, the flags are still visible outside the embassy building. 

The removal of the flags, followed by the recent tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Greenland, have fueled further discontent within the nation. 

“I hope this Trump ends his threat soon, but I’m not too worried, I think it will be fine,” Wong added.

This story is targeted for an NBC News audience, likely a mix of Danish and American audiences. https://www.nbcnews.com/