A satirical, tongue-in-cheek political campaign and petition to crowdfund the purchase of the U.S. state of California on behalf of the country of Denmark gained widespread attention in early 2025 as a form of protest and opposition to US President Donald Trump's proposal to acquire Greenland, which is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The Danish government clarified that Greenland is not for sale.[1] The campaign to acquire California went viral in February 2025, attracting several hundred thousand signatures in support, and was widely covered by major international news outlets. The movement, while humorous, has been framed as a critique of American territorial ambitions and claims against Denmark and U.S. foreign policy under Trump. The campaign seeks to "Måke Califørnia Great Ægain" by purchasing the state of California and bringing the benefits of Danish culture to the state, including everything from hygge to bike lanes, to smørrebrød. If California were purchased by Denmark, the petition notes that the "rule of law, universal healthcare and fact-based politics might apply" and the name of the state would be changed to "New Denmark".[2][3]
During his first and second term, Trump has repeatedly asserted the claim that the United States should be in control of Greenland. He reportedly views a Greater United States as both vital to national security, and a way to strengthen his historical legacy as president akin to how predecessor William McKinley acquired new territory for the United States.[4] Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen previously referred to Trump's proposal as "absurd",[5] and more recently Greenland's leader Múte Egede made it clear that the country was not for sale.[6] On 10 February 2025, Republican senator Buddy Carter introduced legislation which would rename Greenland to "Red, White, and Blueland" and allow Donald Trump to "purchase or otherwise acquire" Greenland.[7] Trump's proposals have also exacerbated concerns about the independence movement in Greenland, whose prime minister in late 2024 said the island needed to "break free from 'the shackles of colonialism'".[8] Trump's proposal is widely considered to be ridiculous in Denmark,[5] with the majority of Americans opposed to the idea of purchasing Greenland.[9]
Solvang, California, 2005
At the same time in February, an online petition to buy California by a group calling itself "Denmarkifcation" was started by Xavier Dutoit.[10] Dutoit was on vacation in the Philippines when he came up with the idea.[11] He said he was in a bar with friends when they overheard an American with MAGA-like sympathies discussing Trump's Greenland proposal.[12] "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," Dutoit told the Associated Press.[11] Later that night, Dutoit was enjoying a beer and devised the notion of "Denmarkification" to "convey the neocolonialism obscenity". The next morning, he used DeepSeek to write the content in the style of Trump and create the website for the petition.[12] The petition has been described as satirical and tongue-in-cheek.[13] Dutoit is not Danish. He is part French and part Swiss, making him a candidate, he says, for the position of "Chief Pastry Officer" of New Denmark.[14]
The state of California has had a historical connection with Denmark and the Danish people for a long time. In Southern California, the city of Solvang is widely referred to as "the Danish capital of America". The town was established in 1911 by Danish immigrants and is known for its Scandinavian themes, including a main street named "Copenhagen Drive", prominent windmills, æbleskiver pastries, a museum dedicated to Hans Christian Andersen,[1] and the Elverhøj Museum of History and Art.[15]
Rationale for the proposal
The petition outlined several justifications for Denmark acquiring California:
Access to year-round sunshine, palm trees, and beach culture
A secure supply of avocados, with California producing nearly 90% of U.S.-grown avocados
Tech industry dominance, leveraging Silicon Valley’s innovations
Implementation of Scandinavian social policies, including universal healthcare and expanded bike lanes
The group says that Lego executives could be called upon to work out a deal since "dealing with children throwing tantrums over missing bricks has made them experts in negotiation."[10]
Reaction
The proposal went viral,[16] attracting several hundred thousand signatures in support, and was widely covered by major international news outlets, including CNN, Deutsche Welle, NBC News, and CBS. Analysts and commentators noted the comedic tone of the campaign but also highlighted its underlying critique of U.S. foreign policy under Trump.[17][3][8][13]
Danish citizens and California residents engaged in online discussions, with some embracing the idea of "Denmarkification" while others treated it as an elaborate joke, as its own organizers admitted it was a "dream". Political figures in both Denmark and California largely refrained from serious commentary, though some acknowledged the proposal's reflection of broader political frustrations.[3][17][13][18][19][2][excessive citations]
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