Danish Plan to Buy California, Rename Disneyland®
"Let's buy California from Donald Trump! Yes, you heard that right." That's the opening pitch of an online petition out of Denmark, calling for the Scandinavian nation to make the Golden State its next great adventure. With nearly 300,000 people already signed on, the campaign is light on logistics but heavy on ambition! What's going on here? Is this for real? Could Denmark really bring "hygge to Hollywood"? And what does that even mean?
The "Denmarkification" Dream
According to Denmarkification, the petition, entitled "Let's Buy California from Trump — Denmark's Next Big Adventure," proposes raising $1 trillion via crowdfunding to purchase California from U.S. President Donald Trump.
In exchange, the Danish would enjoy the abundant sunshine of the West Coast and its vast avocado harvests. The campaign website even outlines a full-blown national strategy to merge Danish values with California culture. Think Lego executives as diplomats, a new capital possibly in Solvang, and a rebrand of Los Angeles to "Løs Ångeles."
The petition goes even further, promising to bring hygge — a Danish concept of coziness associated with simple pleasures — to Hollywood, bike lanes to Beverly Hills, and an organic smørrebrød to every street corner.
The cherry on top? Renaming Disneyland as “Hans Christian Andersenland.” As the petition puts it: "Mickey Mouse in a Viking helmet? Yes, please," according to Denmarkification.
"Let's be honest — Trump isn't exactly California's biggest fan," the petition reads, pointing to his criticisms of the state's policies, crime rates, and homelessness issues. "We're pretty sure he'd be willing to part with it for the right price," as reported by Denmarkification.
And if money isn't convincing enough, Denmark's offer sweetens the deal with a "lifetime supply of Danish pastries."
The Real Punchline: Greenland
Of course, the petition isn't meant to be taken literally — the effort is less a political plan and more a parody of one. Its tone is unmistakably satirical, a jab in response to President Trump's revived push to buy Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark. Trump has repeatedly raised the idea during his presidencies, citing national security and natural resources as motivation.
Despite sharp pushback from the international community — including warnings from NATO allies that a forced annexation could spark an international conflict — Trump has continued to float the idea. He told reporters in reference to obtaining Greenland, "I think it'll happen," according to NBC News.
Closeup colorful houses Nuuk Greenland. Photo by amanderson2 under CC BY 2.0.
Greenland's leaders have rejected the Trump proposal repeatedly. After the territory's recent election, its most-likely new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, put it bluntly in a statement to Britain's Sky News: "We don't want to be Americans. No, we don't want to be Danes. We want to be Greenlanders. And we want our own independence in the future. And we want to build our own country by ourselves, not with his hope," as reported by the Sky News.
Satirical Diplomacy: The New Big Trend
Denmark isn't alone in poking fun at American expansionist rhetoric. After Trump recently suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico to "The Gulf of America," Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum fired back with a similar sense of humor.
Speaking beside a map during a press briefing, she proposed renaming North America to "América Mexicana," citing an 1814 founding document. "It sounds nice, no?" she said dryly in a quote reported by the Associated Press.
Could a Joke Become Reality?
Whether it's a protest or just a playful provocation, the petition has certainly created some buzz. As for Trump's response? So far, there hasn't been an official statement on the Danish petition. But it's possible he might be tempted by the promised $1 trillion — and maybe a few pastries on top.
References: Danish Petition to Buy California, Rename Disneyland Nears 300k Signatures | Let’s Buy California from Trump – Denmark's Next Big Adventure | Fact check: Debunking Trump's Greenland claims | Greenland's slow independence party wins election in result seen as rejection of Trump's interference | Greenland elections are dominated by independence and Trump's interest in the island | 'Enough is enough': Greenland flatly rejects Trump's calls for annexation | Denmark wants to buy California. The perks? Free healthcare and pastries | Mexico's President Sheinbaum offers sarcastic response to Trump's 'Gulf of America' comment
