A satirical petition aiming to raise a trillion dollars for Denmark to purchase California has gained over 200,000 signatures.
The petition humorously begins by asking, “Have you ever looked at a map and thought, ‘You know what Denmark needs? More sunshine, palm trees, and roller skates.’” It goes on to say, “Let’s buy California from Donald Trump! Yes, you heard that right. California could be ours, and we need your help to make it happen.”
This playful initiative follows after the U.S. president expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
The petition outlines several reasons why Denmark would benefit from purchasing California, including better weather, a steady supply of avocados, and a stronger presence in the tech industry. The petition humorously notes that adding more “Tech bros” would be a great thing for any democracy. It also suggests Denmark could “protect the free world” and even rename Disneyland as “Hans Christian Andersenland.”
The satirical petition continues with playful references, suggesting a whimsical transformation of California under Danish rule. “Mickey Mouse in a Viking helmet? Yes, please,” it quips. The goal is to raise a trillion dollars, “give or take a few billion,” with the help of “our best negotiators – Lego executives and the cast of Borgen.”
The petition humorously envisions California being rebranded as “New Denmark,” with Los Angeles humorously renamed “Løs Ångeles.” The creators promise to bring “hygge to Hollywood, bike lanes to Beverly Hills, and organic smørrebrød to every street corner.” It also cheekily adds that “rule of law, universal healthcare, and fact-based politics might apply.”
The petition appears to be a playful jab at U.S. President Donald Trump’s previous interest in acquiring Greenland, which he described as an “absolute necessity” during his time in office.
While Trump’s desire to control Greenland has been met with strong opposition from both Greenland and Danish officials, growing speculation about Greenland’s push for independence has reignited discussions on the matter. In his New Year’s speech, Greenland’s prime minister advocated for the island’s liberation from “the shackles of colonialism,” though he did not directly address the United States in his remarks.
