A proposal originating in Denmark to purchase California from the United States has attracted hundreds of thousands of supporters. This playful initiative came about as a reaction to former President Donald Trump’s frequent mentions of acquiring Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. Dubbed “Let’s Purchase California from Trump – Denmark’s Next Grand Venture,” this tongue-in-cheek campaign seeks to gather 500,000 signatures with hopes of raising $1 trillion through crowd-funding efforts.
The petition suggests changing the name of Disneyland to “Hans Christian Andersenland.” After Trump’s comments, both Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and former Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede have affirmed that Greenland is not up for sale.
Frederiksen stated, “Greenland is for the Greenlanders.”
A survey has revealed that 85% of Greenlanders oppose joining the United States. The center-right Demokraatit party recently won 30% of the vote, marking a shift away from pro-American governance.
The party leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen highlighted that the inhabitants aspire to establish an autonomous Greenland, unburdened by external influence. He asserted, “Being American isn’t what we desire; being Danish is not our choice either. Our ambition is to embrace our identity as Greenlandic people and achieve self-governance down the line. It’s crucial for us to construct our nation independently.”
Even though his suggestions were turned down, Trump continues to emphasize the importance of Greenland from a strategic standpoint, highlighting worries about national security. During a recent discussion, he suggested taking control of the territory, an idea that apparently upset leaders in Greenland. Trump remarked, “National security requires us to have Greenland; one way or another, we will obtain it.”
Egede declared, “This has gone far enough. We must strengthen our defiance against Trump this time around. It’s unacceptable for people to keep showing disregard towards us. The President of the United States has once more suggested the possibility of incorporating our territory. I will not stand for that.”
Nielsen said, “Greenland needs us to stand together in a time of great interest from outside. There is a need for unity, so we will enter into negotiations with everyone.”
Grace Hall oversees U.S. politics and news for a content partner at Modern Newsstand LLC.
