Copenhagen, Denmark – In a surprising and satirical move, Danish campaigners have launched a crowdfunding effort to buy the state of California, following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to acquire Greenland
The initiative, dubbed the “Denmarkification” campaign, aims to raise $1 trillion to purchase California and incorporate it into the Danish kingdom.
Organizers say their goal is to bring Danish values to the region while enjoying its sunny climate and abundant resources.
A Danish Makeover for California
If successful, the campaign envisions a transformation of California, including renaming Disneyland to “Hans Christian Andersenland” and embracing Danish culture. “Mickey Mouse in a Viking helmet? Yes, please,” the campaign humorously states.
The petition, which has already garnered over 200,000 signatures, does not directly reference Trump’s Greenland proposal but mirrors his rhetoric, pledging to “make California great again.”
The campaign website playfully suggests that Denmark’s acquisition of the state would be a win-win situation.
“Los Angeles? More like Løs Ångeles,” reads the petition, playing on Danish language elements. “Have you ever looked at a map and thought, ‘You know what Denmark needs? More sunshine, palm trees, and roller skates.’ Well, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make that dream a reality. Let’s buy California from Donald Trump!”
Satirical Diplomatic Proposals
As part of their campaign, organizers jokingly propose that Danish toy giant Lego should handle diplomatic relations, citing its expertise in managing “children throwing tantrums over missing bricks.”
The campaign further argues that Trump himself might support the deal, given his longstanding disputes with California’s leadership.
“Trump isn’t exactly California’s biggest fan,” they claim. “He’s called it ‘the most ruined state in the Union’ and has feuded with its leaders for years. We’re pretty sure he’d be willing to part with it for the right price.”
To sweeten the offer, Denmark proposes offering Trump a lifetime supply of Danish pastries, allegedly to be funded by Hollywood. If acquired, Denmark would bring “hygge to Hollywood, bike lanes to Beverly Hills, and organic smørrebrød to every street corner.”
The campaign also highlights Denmark’s emphasis on universal healthcare, rule of law, and fact-based politics.
A Response to Trump’s Greenland Ambitions
The satirical effort comes in direct response to Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, a Danish territory and a key NATO asset due to its strategic Arctic location. The former U.S. president previously suggested that American national security interests justified bringing Greenland under U.S. control.
Before beginning his second term in office on January 20, Trump refused to rule out military action to seize Greenland, comparing its importance to the Panama Canal. “We need Greenland for national security purposes,” he stated.
However, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen firmly rejected the idea, privately informing Trump that the territory was not for sale. In a public statement, she expressed skepticism that the U.S. would resort to military or economic pressure against Denmark, which she called one of America’s “closest allies.”
Danish Leaders Push Back
The Danish response to Trump’s Greenland ambitions has been sharp. Right-wing Danish MEP Anders Vistisen delivered a blunt message to the former president, stating:
“Greenland has been part of the Danish kingdom for 800 years. It’s an integrated part of our country. It is not for sale.”
To further drive the point home, Vistisen used language that left little room for interpretation: “Let me put it in words you might understand, Mr. Trump. F**k off.”
A Satirical Stand Against U.S. Expansionism
The “Denmarkification” campaign is the latest example of Danish pushback against Trump’s ambitions in Greenland. While the petition is clearly satirical, it underscores the broader frustration among Danes regarding U.S. interference in their territories.
By flipping Trump’s Greenland logic on its head, the campaign delivers a humorous yet pointed critique of American expansionist policies—while also inviting Danes to imagine a California under Danish rule, complete with Viking-themed Disneyland attractions and smørrebrød on every street corner.
