10.03.2025 17:50
A campaign humorously initiated by a group of friends in response to discussions about U.S. President Donald Trump's desire to buy Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, is approaching 300,000 signatures for the "Annex California to Denmark" initiative.
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Greenland, an autonomous region under the Kingdom of Denmark, is frequently in the news due to its rich underground resources expected to be revealed as glaciers melt and its geopolitical importance in the Arctic region. U.S. President Donald Trump has drawn criticism from many, including Greenlandic and Danish officials, for his statements regarding the island, which he claims is needed for "national security and even international security."
CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO "ANNEX CALIFORNIA TO DENMARK"
Among the reactions, a campaign called "Denmarkification," initiated by a group of friends in Denmark and signed by over 270,000 people, particularly attracts attention with its humorous approach. The statement on the campaign's website requests that the state of California be purchased from the U.S. and made part of Denmark in response to Trump's plan to buy Greenland. The statement notes that Trump is "not the biggest fan" of California, where many Democratic voters live, and that he would be willing to part with it "for the right price," with a target amount of 1 trillion dollars aimed to be raised for this purpose.
CALIFORNIANS SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE CAMPAIGN
Residents of California, chosen for its warm and sunny climate, dominance in the tech sector, avocado production, freedoms, and the presence of one of the country's most famous amusement parks, Disneyland, are humorously supporting the campaign in their comments on social media platforms. Xavier Dutoit, one of the campaign organizers, explained to AA reporter how the process began, while UCLA law professor Stephen Gardbaum evaluated how feasible this initiative is from the perspective of the U.S. Constitution.
"MY ONLY GOAL WAS TO SHOW HOW ABSURD TRUMP'S GREENLAND STATEMENTS ARE"
Xavier Dutoit, one of the organizers of the petition campaign, explained that the idea came to him after overhearing a loud American tourist discussing Trump's Greenland plans while on vacation. Dutoit stated, "That American (tourist) seemed unable to grasp how absurd it is for the president of a country like the U.S., which claims to be a stable democracy, to propose taking over the territory of another independent country or to make threats in that direction." He noted that the day after witnessing the tourist's comments, he launched a website to bring the campaign idea to life, saying, "My only goal was to show how absurd Trump's Greenland statements are."
"TRUMP HAS NOT RESPONDED YET; THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY A BARGAINING TACTIC"
Dutoit explained that the campaign, which he initially continued to entertain his friends for a few days, quickly gained popularity from France to the Middle East, from India to Myanmar, in many parts of the world, saying, "It became a bit overwhelming. Can you believe it? We are not in the news every day trying to buy a U.S. state." He noted that the campaign has also garnered interest from the people of California, with some citizens from other regions of the U.S. approaching them with requests to "have their states purchased by Denmark."
Dutoit remarked, "It seems that although the petition campaign started as a joke, Denmark's lifestyle, rule of law, fact-based politics, and the idea of Danish pastries attract the interest of many Americans." He stated that they will continue the campaign as long as it remains humorous, jokingly adding, "Trump has not responded yet. This is undoubtedly a bargaining tactic."
TRUMP'S STATEMENTS REGARDING GREENLAND
Since returning to the U.S. administration, Trump has frequently expressed his desire to acquire Greenland. On December 23, 2024, in a post on his Truth Social account, he reiterated his claim that Greenland should be under the control of his country, arguing that owning and controlling the island is an "absolute necessity." Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede stated, "Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We will not lose our long-standing struggle for freedom." Greenland, which is under the Kingdom of Denmark, is located 2,900 kilometers away from the country.
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