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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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A satirical petition calling on Denmark to “buy” California has surged past 200,000 signatures as an apparent response to the Trump administration’s renewed calls for the U.S. to acquire Greenland.
The campaign—hosted on Denmarkification.com—imagines a world where Denmark purchases America’s most populous state, rebrands it “New Denmark,” and even renames Disneyland as "Hans Christian Andersenland."
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump has again issued a warning about Greenland’s strategic importance, saying the U.S. needs the island to counter Russian influence and asserting “now is the time” to act, though his remarks have been sharply criticized by European leaders.
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On Saturday, thousands of Greenlanders marched through the capital city of Nuuk in protest against the Trump government's escalating threats to acquire the self-governing territory.
In response, Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of 10 percent starting February 1, rising to 25 percent on June 1 on countries that oppose Washington’s bid to control Greenland—including Denmark and several of its closest European allies—and to keep those tariffs in place until a deal on Greenland is reached.
Leaders across Europe have reacted strongly to Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on allied countries that oppose America’s efforts to take control of Greenland, warning the move risks undermining NATO cooperation and strain trans-Atlantic ties while defending Greenland’s right to determine its own future.
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What To Know
A satirical parody, the Denmarkification petition pitches its California purchase as tongue-in-cheek, with language deliberately echoing some of the recent statements made Trump about the acquisition of Greenland.
It suggests Denmark should “play the U.S. at its own game,” arguing the country needs “more sunshine, palm trees and roller skates.”
The site promises bike lanes in Beverly Hills, Danish hygge in Hollywood, and even Mickey Mouse in a Viking helmet—all while declaring the campaign is “100 percent real… in our dreams.”
Petition organizer Xavier Dutoit—who is Swiss-French, not Danish—came up with the idea after overhearing an American tourist discussing Trump’s Greenland pitch while he was on holiday in the Philippines. He later looped in Danish friends, turning the concept into a collaborative satire that has gained viral attention.
Dutoit told Newsweek: “While on vacation in the Philippine, I was at a bar with some friends, and overheard a rather loud American tourist discussing Donald Trump’s bid to buy Greenland from Denmark. That American didn’t seem to grasp how unhinged and absurd it was for any country’s President—especially in a stable democracy that the USA claims to be—to offer or threaten to take over another sovereign country’s territory.
“The idea that came to me was to start a satirical campaign proclaiming that Denmark was interested in buying California from Trump—purely to make a point about how absurd Trump’s claims to Greenland really were.”
What People Are Saying
Lisa Ling, a journalist with CNN, said on Threads: “As a Californian, I love this deal.”
The official Threads account of the California National Party said: “On behalf of California, we accept this generous offer from the Danish people.”
Dan Wentzel, an actor and writer, said on Threads: “We in California accept the purchase and our membership in the European Union and universal health care. Bye MAGAs!”
Esben Graversen, a Danish resident, wrote on X: “Californians should be warned: High taxes, but high trust. Universal healthcare that actually works. Hustle culture might take a hit. No guns—like, really no guns. Less flash, more humble. Welfare state ≠ lazy state. Happiness rankings might go up. Stricter immigration control.”
What Happens Next
“The goal is to raise 1 trillion US dollars and buy California for Denmark,” Dutoit said, but added: “OK for real now. The goal is to make a point—and make it funny. It's absurd for any country, especially a well established democracy, to offer or threaten to buy another country or part of their territory. The purpose of the obviously absurd and satirical tone of the petition is to emphasize that point.”
No officials from either Denmark or the U.S. have yet commented on the satirical petition. But according to the site, over 280,000 people have already signed up to the petition, as the satirical campaign continues to circulate online amid ongoing debate over Trump’s Greenland ambitions.
UPDATE 01/20/26 06:55 a.m.: This story was updated with additional comment from petition organizer Xavier Dutoit.
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