‘Let’s buy California’: Danish petition offers lifetime pastries and sandwich makeover for Hollywood

“Denmark dreams of buying California”

A tongue-in-cheek online petition calling on Danish citizens to crowdfund the purchase of California from the United States is gaining traction, attracting over 280,000 signatures and injecting humour into an otherwise tense geopolitical situation focused on Greenland and transatlantic relations.

The petition, titled “Let’s Buy California from Trump – Denmark’s Next Big Adventure,” was launched nearly a year ago by a collective known as Denmarkification.

For months, it received little attention. That changed sharply after US President Donald Trump once again sparked controversy by refusing to rule out extreme measures to take control of Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.

The petition suggests that Denmark should “buy” California from the US, turning the tables on Trump’s repeated hints that Greenland could be acquired for American strategic purposes.

Its playful premise is simple, if vast territories can be discussed as real estate, Denmark might as well try its luck with the Golden State. The organisers outline a mock plan to raise roughly $1 trillion through crowdfunding, joking that it would cost each Dane about 200,000 kroner. In exchange, they promise Californians a distinctly Nordic makeover.

Among the offerings are “rule of law, universal health care, and fact-based politics,” along with a lifetime supply of Danish pastries. The petition also pledges to export Danish hygge, the famously untranslatable concept of cosiness, to Hollywood, build bike lanes through Beverly Hills, and ensure organic smørrebrød, traditional Danish open-faced sandwiches, are available on every corner.

The humour extends to culture and branding. Disneyland, the petition suggests, could be renamed “Hans Christian Andersenland,” complete with fairy-tale flair and a Scandinavian twist. Los Angeles would be reimagined as “Løs Ångeles,” while California itself would become “New Denmark,” promoting Danish values under endless sunshine.

Meanwhile, Trump has recently declined to clarify how far he might go to secure Greenland, insisting it is vital for US national and global security. Speaking ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, he said that “things are going to work out pretty well,” even as Denmark warned that any attempt to seize Greenland could threaten the NATO alliance.

Trump’s remarks have been accompanied by fresh threats of tariffs against European countries, including Germany, raising concern among European leaders and businesses. Greenland’s own leadership has repeatedly stated that the island is not for sale, dismissing the notion outright despite Trump’s confidence that its people would be “thrilled.”

Against this backdrop of diplomatic tension, the creators of the Danish petition openly mock Trump’s fraught relationship with California, noting his frequent criticisms of the state and disputes with its leaders. “We’re pretty sure he’d be willing to part with it for the right price,” the petition quips, adding that Danish pastries might help sweeten the deal.