Commentary

Auchter's Art: International Crisis

Michigan Public | By John Auchter

Published January 23, 2026 at 7:00 AM EST

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A four-panel political cartoon titled “How to Avoid Repeating the Recent International Crisis.” Panel 1: Air Force One lands in a snowy area. A staffer says, “Look sir — a frozen wasteland.” Donald Trump replies, “Oooo! Mine! All mine!” The caption reads: “Step 1: Fly Trump to the U.P. and tell him it’s Greenland.” Panel 2: Two locals in plaid offer Trump a pasty, saying, “Yah, hey dare. You guys wanna pasty, eh?” A staffer says, “They are awarding you a peace prize, sir.” The caption reads: “Step 2: Have him meet the ‘natives.’” Panel 3: A car drives by a mine. The staffer says, “See? We’re already exploiting the land.” Trump replies, “And the workers — can we exploit them, too?” The staffer says, “As you wish, sir.” Caption: “Step 3: Drive him by an iron ore mine.” Panel 4: The same plane scene repeats from panel 1. The staffer says, “Look sir — a frozen wasteland.” Trump says, “Oooo! Mine! All mine!” Caption: “Step 4: Repeat, but this time call it Iceland. (He doesn’t seem to be clear on the difference.)”

Michigan's Upper Peninsula has a lot similarities to Greenland:

It's way up north, not easily accessible, and often described as "arctic."

It's not very populated. (The UP has nearly 30% of Michigan's landmass but only 3% of its population.)

Air force facilities that guarded our northern flank during the cold war (K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Kincheloe Air Force Base, and Calumet Air Force Station) have now been decommissioned.

It has a longstanding Nordic cultural heritage (Finnish mostly, not Danish in their case).

And generally they don't like it when people who don't live there try to tell them what to do.

Respect Yoopers. Respect Greenlanders.

Editor's note: John Auchter is a freelance political cartoonist. His views are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Michigan Public, its management, or its license holder, the University of Michigan.