US Embassy in Copenhagen removes flags honoring fallen Danish soldiers, angering veterans

CNN ^ | January 28, 2026 | Caitlin Danaher

[Miami Rebel]

The US Embassy in Copenhagen has angered Danish veterans by removing flags honoring soldiers killed in Afghanistan from an area outside the building.

Video shared by Danish media outlet TV2 showed a security guard removing the flags honoring the 44 Danish soldiers who died in the conflict from planters located outside the embassy on Tuesday.

The Danish Veteran Association slammed the move as “unnecessary and insensitive” in a statement on social media Wednesday. Carsten Rasmussen, national chairman of the association, said he understood the angry reaction but urged a measured response. “When they go low, we go high — and we respond with calm, dignity, and consideration,” he said.

A US State Department spokesperson told CNN the placement of the flags was not coordinated with the US Embassy staff in Copenhagen and that the embassy was unaware of the flags’ significance.

While the placement of such items is not generally prohibited, flags, banners and signs are often cleared by guard staff at the end of their shift “as a general rule,” the spokesperson added.

“Additional flags subsequently placed are currently in place and will remain so,” the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Copenhagen told Danish broadcaster TV 2 that there was “no malicious intent in removing the flags.” The spokesperson added that the embassy has the deepest respect for Danish veterans and those who have contributed to common security, TV2 reported.

Danes responded by placing hundreds more flags in front of the American Embassy, according to video shared by TV2.

A growing number of Danish flags are placed in front of the US Embassy on Wednesday in Copenhagen after staff removed flags on Tuesday afternoon.

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TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: 5thcolumononfr; caitlindanaher; cnn; denmark; frtraitorslist; miamirebel; multiplefrnicks; nevertrumppos; zot

[Strident]

Mr Teapot, meet Mr Tempest.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

A US State Department spokesperson told CNN the placement of the flags was not coordinated with the US Embassy staff in Copenhagen and that the embassy was unaware of the flags’ significance.

While the placement of such items is not generally prohibited, flags, banners and signs are often cleared by guard staff at the end of their shift “as a general rule,” the spokesperson added.

This sounds like a set-up to me. Unless there was a particular anniversary or something, it sounds more like a political statement. And if they never told the embassy staff, and it is normal practice to remove things like that at the end of each shift, I have zero problems with it.

[Eli Kopter]

Meet CNN, purveyor of BS.

[skepsel]

The Big Mike hi-lo quote is the dog whistle give away.

[ASOC]

Best answer -

Sorry, were are in the process of replacing these old flags with now ones. The current flags were looked a bit chuffed, so new ones were planned. The shipment was deployed and the outside staff didn’t.

Please accept our apologies. If you want your Vets honored by worn out flags, we’ll be happy to put them back up.

Smart thing would be to invite the Vets group to raise new flags....

But it’s the State department, not know for anything other than having their collective heads up and locked.