Danish campaigners are proposing to buy California from the United States and turn it into a territory of Denmark in response to Donald Trump‘s bid to acquire Greenland.
The ‘Denmarkification’ campaign says it seeks to crowdfund $1trillion to purchase the US state, after which it plans to instill it with Danish values and make the most of its sunny weather and resources.
President Trump has repeatedly expressed an interest in making Greenland – an autonomous territory of Denmark – part of the US, citing its strategic importance and mineral wealth. He has not ruled out using military or economic power to persuade the EU member to hand it over.
Without mentioning Trump’s threats, the Denmarkification website states its ambitions in similar terms to those used by the Republican – vowing, for example, to ‘make California great again’.
The campaign ‘to help Denmark buy California – because why not?’ was started by Xavier Dutoit and its online petition has racked up some 200,000 signatures in a matter of hours.
Promises include renaming the state ‘New Denmark’ and turning its Disney resort into ‘Hans Christian Andersenland’ – complete with a Viking helmet-wearing Mickey Mouse.
Bosses from Danish toy giant Lego would run talks between the US and Denmark, Dutoit told Politico, because ‘dealing with children throwing tantrums over missing bricks has made them experts in negotiation.’
The page argues that Trump may in fact welcome the sale of the Golden State, saying that he ‘isn’t exactly California’s biggest fan’ and pointing out that he has feuded with Californian leaders – the likes of Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris – for years.
The deal would be sweetened for the billionaire businessman with the offer of a lifetime supply of Danish pastries, according to Dutoit, which he said ‘Hollywood will pay for.’
The page suggests that the lofty fundraising goal of $1trillion could be easily reached if every Dane pledged just 200,000 kroner (around £14,000 or $18,000).
It promises to imbue the state with Danish customs and values, saying ‘we’ll bring hygge to Hollywood, bike lanes to Beverly Hills, and organic smørrebrød to every street corner,’ before adding: ‘Rule of law, universal health care and fact based politics might apply.’
In another sleight on Trump, it says that the ‘will of citizens’ has never stopped the president from carrying out a business deal and adds that Denmark would ‘protect the free world’ if it ran California.
In an effort to convince Danes to get on board with the plan, it highlights California’s sunny weather in comparison to Denmark’s cold climate, pitching the purchase as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ to get ‘more sunshine, palm trees, and roller skates.’
Drawing on the Danes’ love for avocados, it points out the state’s significant crop, promising that ‘we’ll never run out of avocado toast.’
The satirical campaign is just the latest example of Danes hitting back at Trump’s threats to take Greenland.
Addressing the US President last month, right-wing Danish MEP Anders Vistisen responded to his statements: ‘Dear President Trump, listen very carefully.
‘Greenland has been part of the Danish kingdom for 800 years [sic]. It’s an integrated part of our country. It is not for sale.’
In case his message wasn’t clear, Vistisen added pointedly: ‘Let me put it in words you might understand, Mr Trump. F**k off.’
Trump previously sparked outrage when he questioned whether Denmark has any legal right or ‘interest’ to Greenland, stating: ‘People really don’t even know if Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up, because we need it for national security.’
While geographically it is part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically linked with Europe – in particular Norway and Denmark – since the 9th Century. It has been inhabited by the Inuit people for around 800 years.
It was colonised in 1721 with the permission of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway and remained a colony of Denmark until 1953. It is now an autonomous territory of Denmark.
The Danish government has control of Greenland’s foreign and economic policy, but the territory left the EU in 1985 following a referendum.
The US has a military base there given its strategic position as the shortest oceanic crossroads between North America and Europe.
The island also has a large supply of valuable rare earth minerals – like uranium – not found in the US.
