Thousands of Danes sign petition to buy California from U.S.

In a cheeky counter-move to President Donald Trump’s persistent musings about the U.S. snapping up Greenland from Denmark, a group of Danish citizens has fired back with a plan to buy California, America’s economic powerhouse. An online petition pushing for the “Denmarkification” of the Golden State has racked up nearly 200,000 signatures by March 20, 2025, dangling promises of endless sunshine, tech industry supremacy, a bottomless supply of avocado toast, and a rebranded Disneyland—set to be christened “Hans Christian Andersenland” after the famed Danish fairytale writer.

The petition’s pitch is as blunt as it is whimsical: “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.” To make it happen, organizers are aiming to crowdfund $1 trillion—give or take a few billion—which breaks down to roughly 200,000 DKK (about $28,000) per Dane. They’ve tapped LEGO executives and the cast of the Danish political drama *Borgen* to handle negotiations, tossing in a lifetime supply of Danish pastries to seal the deal.

This whole stunt is a jab at Trump’s fixation on Greenland, which he’s touted as vital to U.S. national security, citing its oil, gas, and mineral wealth. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen once called the idea “absurd,” prompting Trump to ditch a Copenhagen trip in his first term. Greenland’s leader, Múte Egede, has been equally firm, declaring the territory off-limits. Since reclaiming the White House, Trump has doubled down, claiming—without evidence—that most Greenlanders want to join the U.S., despite polls showing the opposite.

The petition leans hard into the rocky history between Trump and California. The state has been a Democratic stronghold, backing Trump’s opponents in the last three elections, while Governor Gavin Newsom has been busy crafting laws to thwart the president’s agenda. Trump’s no fan either, branding California a “failed state.” The Danes play on this friction, suggesting Trump might just be tempted to offload it: “Let’s be honest – Trump isn’t exactly California’s biggest fan. 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.”

California’s loss would gut the U.S. economy—it’s the world’s fifth-largest, a tax revenue juggernaut, and a linchpin in agriculture, energy, tech, transportation, info, and entertainment. The petition dangles Danish perks like bike lanes, better transit, universal healthcare, and the cozy “hygge” lifestyle, but no one’s seriously expecting Trump to hand over the keys. The organizers know it too, slipping in a sly dig: “As for the will of the citizens? Well, let’s face it – when has that ever stopped [Trump]?” For now, Californians dreaming of a Danish takeover can only road-trip to Solvang, the “Danish Capital of the U.S.,” and call it a day.

**Links and References:**

- Petition website: [denmarkification.com](https://denmarkification.com)