Latest news with #HansChristianAndersenland
Sky News
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
'We'll bring hygge to Hollywood': Danes offer to buy California after Trump's Greenland claims
A light-hearted petition has been launched in Denmark to buy the state of California in after Donald Trump said he wanted to take over Greenland. The petition, which promises to "bring hygge to Hollywood", asks: "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's website claimed more than 200,000 people had signed it by Wednesday lunchtime, although it is not clear how long it has been running. The petition adds: "It is in the national interest to promote the extraordinary heritage of our Nation, so California will become New Denmark." Under their scheme, Disneyland will be renamed "Hans Christian Andersenland". "Mickey Mouse in a Viking helmet? Yes, please," the petition said. Promising to send "Lego executives and the cast of Borgen" to make the deal, the petition to turn Los Angeles into "Løs Ångeles" adds that "rule of law, universal health care, and fact-based politics might apply". 1:44 Of course, every petition needs some fine print, and it can be found way down at the bottom: "Disclaimer: This campaign is 100% real... in our dreams." There's also a financial target of "one trillion dollars (give or take a few billion)". According to the site, that means "just 200,000 kroner (£22,335) from every Dane". During his first term as US president, Mr Trump discussed the possibility of claiming Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous Danish territory, and a vast and mineral-rich Arctic island In 2019, he scrapped a trip to Denmark over Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's "nasty" response to his idea, and a full-scale diplomatic row developed over the issue. Before taking office for his second White House term, Mr Trump said he would not rule out using military force to seize control of the island, calling it vital to US national security. At a joint news conference in Copenhagen last month, Ms Frederiksen and Mute B Egede, Greenland's Prime Minister, rejected the plan. Mr Egede said: "Greenland is for the Greenlandic people. We do not want to be Danish, we do not want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic."
Times of Oman
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
E-petition urges Denmark to buy California from Trump
California: A petition calling for Denmark to buy the most populous US state had gathered more than 200,000 signatures on Wednesday, promising to "Make California Great Again." The spoof web campaign comes amid renewed interest from Donald Trump in buying Greenland — or even taking the vast Arctic island by force. What does the petition call for? The jokey web campaign posits the vision of a California ruled from Copenhagen, with all the advantages of a Nordic welfare state — plus the glorious sunshine of the Golden State. "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," it says. "Let's buy California from Donald Trump! Yes, you heard that right. California could be ours." The website lists the possibilities that such an acquisition might bring, including the renaming of Disneyland as "Hans Christian Andersenland." It envisages "Avocado Toast Forever," with almost 90% of US-grown avocados coming from California. The petition's authors also envision an expanded frontier for the Danish concept of coziness (hygge) and environmentally-friendly Scandinavian buttered rye bread. "We'll bring hygge to Hollywood, bike lanes to Beverly Hills, and organic smørrebrød to every street corner." Could it prove successful? No. But, while the petition is a clear parody — "100% real... in our dreams" — it cites reasons that property mogul Trump might agree to sell the state. Trump last year called California "Paradise Lost" and he regularly insults its Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom with the nickname "Newscum." "Let's be honest – Trump isn't exactly California's biggest fan," the website says. "He's called it 'the most ruined state in the Union' and has feuded with its leaders for years. We're pretty sure he'd be willing to part with it for the right price." It sets a mock crowdfunding goal of "$1 trillion (give or take a few billion)." "And hey, we'll even throw in a lifetime supply of Danish pastries to sweeten the deal." Not entirely a fairy tale While the notion of a Danish California might seem far-fetched, it does have some semblance in reality. The city of Solvang in southern California's Santa Barbara county was founded by three immigrants from Denmark in 1911. It is known as "the Danish capital of America."
Boston Globe
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
‘We'll bring hygge to Hollywood': Danes petition to buy California as Trump seeks Greenland
'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,' the petition states. While Løs Ångeles is a joke, another very Danish city in Southern California is real. Known as 'the Danish capital of America,' Solvang was founded by three immigrants from Denmark in 1911. Advertisement The city is popular with tourists, who come in droves for its aebleskiver pastries, Scandinavian windmills, a main street called 'Copenhagen Drive' and, of course, a Hans Christian Andersen Museum to honor the famous Danish fairy tale author. Danish royals have visited several times over the decades. But in 2019, Trump scrapped a trip to Denmark and said the cancellation was because Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made a 'nasty' statement when she rejected his first-term idea of buying Greenland as an absurdity. Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of the U.S. ally. Trump, now in his second term, is doubling down. Before taking office last month, Trump said he would not rule out the use of military force to seize control of the island, calling it vital to U.S. national security. Frederiksen and Múte B. Egede, Greenland's prime minister, are pushing back again. 'Greenland is for the Greenlandic people. We do not want to be Danish, we do not want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic,' Egede said at a news conference alongside last month Frederiksen in Copenhagen. Advertisement The president's oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., visited Greenland last month and told citizens: 'We're going to treat you well.' So Denmarkification decided to channel Trump's previous career as a real estate developer. The petition organizers already have big plans for Disneyland in Southern California. 'We'll rename it Hans Christian Andersenland. Mickey Mouse in a Viking helmet? Yes, please,' the petition states. Of course, every petition needs some fine print, way down at the bottom: 'Disclaimer: This campaign is 100% real … in our dreams.'
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Danish petition supporting plan to buy California ‘reaches 200,000 signatures'
Danish citizens have launched a petition to purchase America's most populous and prosperous state, California, in response to Donald Trump's efforts to acquire Greenland. The president has recently escalated calls to purchase the autonomous Danish territory for 'national security' purposes, despite both Denmark and Greenland's Prime Ministers insisting the Arctic island is not for sale. Pledging to 'Make California Great Again,' Danes have launched a retaliatory campaign seeking the 'Denmarkification' of the world's fifth-largest economy. The tongue-in-cheek petition, which is apparently seeking to crowdfund $1 trillion to buy the Golden State, claims it has garnered just shy of 200,000 signatures by Tuesday morning. It comes after California's Secretary of State Shirley Webster permitted a campaign to begin collecting signatures to vote to secede from the U.S. and become an independent country on the 2028 election ballot. The Independent has contacted organizers of the Demarkification campaign for confirmation of the signatures gathered. California would become 'New Denmark,' according to the campaign's website, while its world-famous theme park Disneyland would be rebranded as 'Hans Christian Andersenland'. Other benefits of the Scandinavian nation purchasing the state include 'tech dominance' and 'avocado on toast forever,' according to the petition. 'Have you ever looked at a map and thought, 'You know what Denmark needs? More sunshine, palm trees, and roller skates,'' the website reads. 'Well, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make that dream a reality.' Executives from LEGO and the cast of the political drama Borgen would be pulled in to negotiate the deal, while a lifetime supply of Danish pastries would be on the table to sweeten the deal. A disclaimer at the bottom of the page reads: 'This campaign is 100% real… in our dreams'. Trump and his allies have repeated calls for Greenland to join the U.S. to enhance national security. At the start of the new year, the president once pointed to 'economic security' as a reason for the takeover, with the island's untapped mineral resources in great demand. Greenland's 800,000 square miles 'contains approximately 31,400 million barrels oil equivalent of oil' and around 148 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to an assessment by the U.S. Geological Survey. According to estimates from The Washington Post, because of its natural resources and industries, buying the island could cost as much as $1.7 trillion. Last month, the president stated that the majority of Greenland's 56,000 inhabitants 'want' to become Americans. However, a mere six percent of Greenlanders are hoping their nation will join the U.S., according to a poll commissioned by Danish newspaper of record, Berlingske, and the Greenlandic daily Sermitsiaq. The survey suggests that 85 percent of those residing in the Danish territory don't want to become a part of the U.S. Six percent were in favor of joining and nine percent had been left undecided, according to the poll. It comes as a GOP congressman floated new legislation in an attempt to bolster Donald Trump's efforts to take over Greenland, while also giving the autonomous Danish territory a new name. Georgia Representative Buddy Carter said he wants Greeland to be called 'Red, White, and Blueland' as he unveiled a new bill of the same name. 'America is back and will soon be bigger than ever with the addition of Red, White, and Blueland,' said in a statement to the New York Post. 'President Trump has correctly identified the purchase of what is now Greenland as a national security priority, and we will proudly welcome its people to join the freest nation to ever exist when our Negotiator-in-Chief inks this monumental deal.'
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Danes launch campaign to 'buy' California from US
The Brief The 'Denmarkification' campaign says it seeks to crowdfund $1trillion to purchase the U.S. state. Promises include renaming California 'New Denmark' and turning Disneyland into 'Hans Christian Andersenland.' President Trump has repeatedly expressed an interest in making Greenland - an autonomous territory of Denmark - part of the US LOS ANGELES - Thousands of Danish people have signed a "Denmarkification" petition to buy California from the U.S. in response to President Donald Trump's bid to acquire Greenland. The online petition has garnered nearly 200,000 signatures from the Scandinavian country home to nearly 6 million people. "Los Angeles? More like Løs Ångeles," the petition reads. "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 campaign website reads. "Let's buy California from Donald Trump!" The petition claims its crowdfunding goal is $1 trillion — "give or take a few billion." Greenland, home to a large U.S. military base, is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a longtime U.S. ally and a founding member of NATO. Trump cast doubts on the legitimacy of Denmark's claim to Greenland. Apparently there are five major incentives for Danes to sign the petition: sunshine, tech, avocado toast, protecting the free world, and of course - Disneyland, which the petition calls to rename "Hans Christian Andersenland." "Mickey Mouse in a Viking helmet? Yes, please," the petition reads. SUGGESTED: Trump wants to buy Greenland, make Canada a US state "Trump isn't exactly California's biggest fan. He's called it 'the most ruined state in the Union' and has feuded with its leaders for years. We're pretty sure he'd be willing to part with it for the right price." Before taking office for his second term on Jan. 20, Trump said he would not rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, as he declared U.S. control of both to be vital to American national security. Trump left open the use of the American military to secure both territories. Trump's intention marks a rejection of decades of U.S. policy that has prioritized self-determination over territorial expansion. "I'm not going to commit to that," Trump said, when asked if he would rule out the use of the military. "It might be that you'll have to do something. The Panama Canal is vital to our country." He added, "We need Greenland for national security purposes." Addressing Trump's comments in an interview with Danish broadcaster TV2, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the United States Denmark's "most important and closest ally," and that she did not believe that the United States will use military or economic power to secure control over Greenland. Frederiksen repeated that she welcomed the United States taking a greater interest in the Arctic region, but that it would "have to be done in a way that is respectful of the Greenlandic people," she said. "At the same time, it must be done in a way that allows Denmark and the United States to still cooperate in, among other things, NATO," Frederiksen said. The Source Information for this story is from the Denmarkification website and the Associated Press.
