Tønnesen is very busy these days. Media from all over the world want to interview him, and he is also busy getting more caps for demonstrations that will be held in several cities in Denmark on Saturday.
The world is so tough right now and it's almost hard to take in everything that's happening. I think if you can mix in a little humor, it will be easier for people to communicate what they feel and take a stand, he says.
"Boomer humor"
The cap, which says "Nu det Nuuk", alludes to the Danish word "nok" (enough) and to Greenland's capital, Nuuk.
The idea came last summer, but when the first caps were ready, none of his friends believed it would be a success.
They laughed at me and thought I had a "boomer sense of humor." I probably sold five caps in total, says Tønnesen.
But then something happened. US President Donald Trump repeated his threats to acquire Greenland at any cost, and shortly afterwards, Danish TV2 broadcast a segment featuring a Greenlander in Nuuk wearing the cap.
Suddenly they were completely sold out while media from all over the world were calling. It was absolutely crazy, he says.
Wants Trump to see
The attention is something Tønnesen has decided to take full advantage of. He has quickly come up with a new design that says "Already great" and "Not for sale" in the hope that the message will reach all the way to the White House.
"Yes, I want Trump to see it. If I can help make a difference by taking a stand, I want to. I think everyone has a responsibility to do that," he says.
In the middle of the interview, Tønnesen learns that the delivery of the caps is delayed and that they may not arrive on time. He mutters "for hell" in classic Danish fashion. The next day, however, the delivery has arrived at Tønnesen’s vintage shop in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen.
"We're in a hurry now and don't have time to talk," says one of his employees over the phone.
