A lighthearted Danish petition has emerged, aiming to “bring hygge to Hollywood” by proposing to purchase the state of California in response to President Donald Trump’s recent discussions about acquiring Greenland from Denmark. The petition humorously suggests that Denmark could benefit from more sunshine, palm trees, and roller skates, and envisions transforming California into a new Danish territory.
According to the petition's website, it has garnered over 200,000 signatures as of midmorning Wednesday, although the exact duration of the petition's circulation remains unclear. The petition playfully advocates for rebranding California as New Denmark, with Los Angeles humorously renamed as Løs Ångeles.
While the notion of Løs Ångeles is purely satirical, the presence of a distinctly Danish community in Southern California is indeed real. Solvang, known as “the Danish capital of America,” was established in 1911 by three Danish immigrants. The city attracts tourists with its Scandinavian charm, offering aebleskiver pastries, Danish windmills, and a street named “Copenhagen Drive,” along with a museum dedicated to Hans Christian Andersen.
President Trump's previous interest in acquiring Greenland led to tensions with Denmark, culminating in his decision to cancel a planned visit to the country. Despite Trump's assertions of Greenland's strategic importance, Greenland's Prime Minister emphasized the territory's desire for self-governance.
The petition organizers also humorously propose renaming Disneyland in Southern California as Hans Christian Andersenland, envisioning Mickey Mouse sporting a Viking helmet. The petition highlights Trump's contentious relationship with California, citing his disparaging remarks about the state as “Paradise Lost” and his derogatory nickname for Governor Gavin Newsom.
However, the petition concludes with a disclaimer, clarifying that the campaign exists solely in the realm of imagination: “Disclaimer: This campaign is 100% real … in our dreams.”
