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By Marni Rose McFall
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The U.S. national anthem received boos and heckles at an NBA game in London on Sunday, with one person shouting: "leave Greenland alone."
The actress Vanessa Williams performed the Star-Spangled Banner before the Memphis Grizzlies played off against the Orlando Magic at the O2 arena. Williams is currently performing in The Devil Wears Prada on London's West End.
Newsweek contacted the NBA for comment outside of regular working hours via email.
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Why It Matters
President Donald Trump has escalated his ambitions for Greenland in recent weeks, leading to heightened tensions with Denmark and NATO allies, who oppose his move.
Trump has continued to insist that the U.S. needs to acquire Greenland for security reasons, in particular in the face of Russian and Chinese ambitions in the Arctic. Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, which Trump has said Copenhagen is not capable of defending.
Trump announced on Saturday that he will introduce punitive tariffs against nations that oppose his efforts to acquire Greenland. He wrote on Truth Social that additional 10 percent tariffs would be imposed from February 1 on goods coming from Denmark, Great Britain, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Sweden and Norway. He added that the tariffs will increase to 25 percent on June 1 unless a deal for Greenland is completed.
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What To Know
In a video shared on X, Williams can be heard singing the U.S. national anthem before someone in the crowd yells "leave Greenland alone," drawing a loud cheer from the crowd.
A mixture of boos and cheers could be heard throughout the rest of Williams' performance.
Chris Daw, a lawyer who posted the video, wrote: "The mood of the British crowd at the O2 last night was very clear. Cries of 'Leave Greenland Alone!' were met with loud cheers during the US national anthem. And there were jeers of irony at the line, 'land of the free.' I have never seen any national anthem treated like this - feelings are running high in Britain about Trump's attempt to appoint himself King of the World."
He also told Newsweek: "I have been to many US sporting events in the UK and both national countries' anthems have always been honored with respect and dignity. The mood of the Brits in the crowd at the O2 for the NBA game last night was clearly hostile to Trump and what he has done to America's relationship with its closest and most loyal allies, by threatening Greenland.
"We have been in the trenches together in war after war, fighting and dying for freedom, side by side. Now is not the time for America to threaten the forces of democracy and freedom in the UK and Europe, with so many hostile forces attacking those values, which the ordinary people of our countries share and cherish."
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social last week: "The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security. It is vital for the Golden Dome that we are building. NATO should be leading the way for us to get it. IF WE DON’T, RUSSIA OR CHINA WILL, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! Militarily, without the vast power of the United States, much of which I built during my first term, and am now bringing to a new and even higher level, NATO would not be an effective force or deterrent - Not even close! They know that, and so do I. NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES. Anything less than that is unacceptable."
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on X on Saturday: "Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration."
What Happens Next
Starmer addressed the situation on Monday, saying that the future of Greenland "belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone," and said that "threatening tariffs on allies is the wrong thing to do completely."
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