I have personally tripped the GFP protection of mains (800 amp, 2000 amp) by accidentally causing branch circuit ground faults. It is definitely possible.
That said, I am curious why there was a GFP main tripped by what I have to assume was a 120 volt circuit.
GFP is not required below 250 volts to ground and a 480Y/277 volt GFP device is blind to a ground fault on a SDS.
It is possible to trip a feeder breaker without GFP with a branch circuit short but it is not guaranteed.
