Hitting back at Trump, over a quarter-million urge Denmark to buy California

By Fatma Zehra Solmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) - Over 270,000 people have signed a lighthearted counter-petition urging Denmark to purchase California in response to US President Donald Trump's growing interest in territorial expansion plans and, in particular, acquiring Greenland.

The "Denmarkification" campaign humorously mocks Trump's iconic slogan and his continuous attempts to expand US territory, with the goal of raising "one trillion dollars (give or take a few billion)" through crowdfunding and gathering 500,000 signatures to "Make Califørnia Great Ægain."

"Let’s buy California from Donald Trump!" the petition declares.

This petition, promising a lifetime supply of Danish treats if the deal goes through, has garnered nearly 272,406 signatures.

Xavier Dutoit, the Swiss-French organizer behind the petition, initiated the satirical campaign after overhearing an American tourist in the Philippines boasting about Trump's long-standing ambition to rename Greenland as "Red, White and Blueland," as reported by the New York Post.

“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 US claims to be, to offer or threaten to take over another sovereign country’s territory,” Dutoit remarked.

Greenland, with a population of about 57,000, has been under Denmark's control since the 19th century. Situated between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, the island has attracted growing interest from the US due to its vast natural resources and location. Emphasizing its strategic importance at a Congress session on Tuesday, Trump declared that the US would secure Greenland “one way or another.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has backed the president’s pursuit of Greenland, emphasizing the US military's responsibility to defend the island and a 1951 treaty guaranteeing its protection in case of an attack.

The petition proposes: "It is in the national interest to promote the extraordinary heritage of our Nation, so California will become New Denmark. Los Angeles? More like Løs Ångeles."

It also suggests renaming Disneyland to “Hans Christian Andersenland,” with the icon Mickey Mouse in a Viking helmet.

“Rule of law, universal health care and fact-based politics might apply,” the petition suggests, pointing out that Trump may be willing to sell the state due to his ongoing conflicts with California Governor Gavin Newsom and other political figures.

“This campaign is 100% real … in our dreams,” a disclaimer at the bottom of the petition reads.

Trump has also expressed interest in other territories such as Canada, the Panama Canal, and the Gaza Strip as potential areas for US expansion.

“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,” the petition states.