this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2026
910 points (99.1% liked)

News

34490 readers
5009 users here now

Welcome to the News community!

Rules:

1. Be civil


Attack the argument, not the person. No racism/sexism/bigotry. Good faith argumentation only. This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban. Do not respond to rule-breaking content; report it and move on.


2. All posts should contain a source (url) that is as reliable and unbiased as possible and must only contain one link.


Obvious right or left wing sources will be removed at the mods discretion. Supporting links can be added in comments or posted seperately but not to the post body.


3. No bots, spam or self-promotion.


Only approved bots, which follow the guidelines for bots set by the instance, are allowed.


4. Post titles should be the same as the article used as source.


Posts which titles don’t match the source won’t be removed, but the autoMod will notify you, and if your title misrepresents the original article, the post will be deleted. If the site changed their headline, the bot might still contact you, just ignore it, we won’t delete your post.


5. Only recent news is allowed.


Posts must be news from the most recent 30 days.


6. All posts must be news articles.


No opinion pieces, Listicles, editorials or celebrity gossip is allowed. All posts will be judged on a case-by-case basis.


7. No duplicate posts.


If a source you used was already posted by someone else, the autoMod will leave a message. Please remove your post if the autoMod is correct. If the post that matches your post is very old, we refer you to rule 5.


8. Misinformation is prohibited.


Misinformation / propaganda is strictly prohibited. Any comment or post containing or linking to misinformation will be removed. If you feel that your post has been removed in error, credible sources must be provided.


9. No link shorteners.


The auto mod will contact you if a link shortener is detected, please delete your post if they are right.


10. Don't copy entire article in your post body


For copyright reasons, you are not allowed to copy an entire article into your post body. This is an instance wide rule, that is strictly enforced in this community.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

UPDATE -- I found the original website and it's even better than we thought.

https://denmarkification.com/

Part 2 - This was started in Feb 2025 when tRump first proposed taking over Greenland.

https://apnews.com/article/denmark-greenland-california-75f1521f32871069e9840069e829e4dc

What began as a joke on social media has snowballed into one of the most talked-about political satire campaigns in Europe this year. More than 200,000 Danish citizens have now signed a viral petition proposing that Denmark buy the U.S. state of California, a tongue-in-cheek response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s past interest in acquiring Greenland.

Under the fictional proposal, Californians would be welcomed into the Kingdom of Denmark with a package of benefits that reads like a parody of Nordic governance. The petition promises “rule of law, universal health care, and fact-based politics” as immediate perks of Danish administration.

To underscore the absurdity, the organizers also pledge a lifetime supply of Danish pastries for all 39 million residents of the state. The petition’s website jokingly notes that while Denmark cannot solve every problem, “we are very confident about pastries.”

The satirical plan goes further, outlining a full cultural “Denmarkification” of the West Coast. Los Angeles would be rechristened “Løs Ångeles,” while Danish-style cycling infrastructure would spread across cities more famous for traffic jams than bicycles.

Even California’s most iconic institutions are not spared. Disneyland would be rebranded as “Hans Christian Andersenland,” a nod to Denmark’s most famous storyteller, Hans Christian Andersen. The petition cheerfully asks readers to imagine fairy tales replacing cartoon mascots, and even suggests that Viking helmets might become standard park attire.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] aleph@piefed.social 161 points 6 days ago (8 children)

As a spokesperson for CA citizens, we'll take it! Please and thank you.

[–] Hylactor@sopuli.xyz 74 points 6 days ago (5 children)

Only if they take Washington and Oregon too.

[–] assembly@lemmy.world 61 points 6 days ago (1 children)

As a WA state resident, we require inclusion in the deal. In fact, you buy 1 California and receive a complimentary WA state for free! Act now, and receive a special-one-time Oregon while supplies last!

[–] wheezy@lemmy.ml 6 points 6 days ago (2 children)

If it were up to me Canada would buy us. I heard their getting China EVs soon.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] BarbecueCowboy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 24 points 6 days ago

An overland route between Mexico and Canada that doesn't go through the US, that could be interesting.

[–] X@piefed.world 13 points 6 days ago

As a Washingtonian, yes please, and thank you for including us and Oregon. It is greatly appreciated!

[–] SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social 9 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Would you be fine if we just made you EU members instead of a state? That might make things less complicated. And would piss Trump off even more.

[–] Barbarian@sh.itjust.works 10 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

The Californian Republic would definitely have the most interesting flag in the EU. Too many tricolors, not enough bears.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] DrakeAlbrecht@sh.itjust.works 13 points 6 days ago

Where do I sign?!

[–] Alatarius@lemmynsfw.com 9 points 6 days ago

I second that.

[–] criss_cross@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago

Can other states join? Asking for friends.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] gigachad@piefed.social 74 points 6 days ago (2 children)

I think it's psychologically important for Denmark to own California

[–] Asfalttikyntaja@sopuli.xyz 22 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Why is it even part of the US? Just because some ships have been landed there? Well, danish has landed there too.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] zbyte64@awful.systems 9 points 6 days ago

It's psychologically important for me to, the change would be of immense psychological benefit to me.

[–] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 69 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I, for one, welcome our new Danish overlords!

[–] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 10 points 6 days ago (1 children)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] GojuRyu@lemmy.world 21 points 5 days ago (1 children)

a package of benefits that reads like a parody of Nordic governance. The petition promises “rule of law, universal health care, and fact-based politics”

That’s not even a parody, just daily life in the nordics contrasted with the US.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] SinningStromgald@lemmy.world 37 points 6 days ago

Don’t tempt us with a good time.

Also, can you take MA too? We have lots of neat bioscience stuff, tons of universities, and a similar dislike of orangeboi.

[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 33 points 6 days ago (1 children)

All sales of California include a complementary Washington State, and yes, it's mandatory.

[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago

Oregon and Hawaii too

[–] goombakid@lemmy.world 9 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Take the whole west coast. OR and WA are sick of this BS too. Hell, take HI as well!

[–] P1nkman@lemmy.world 16 points 6 days ago (2 children)
[–] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 14 points 6 days ago

Yup. Just saw articles from Feb 2025.

Good thing is they're up to 285k now!

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] rageagainstmachines@lemmy.world 15 points 6 days ago

Count me in for being absorbed by Denmark!

[–] elbucho@lemmy.world 19 points 6 days ago

Hey listen: California is vital for Denmark's security, for some reason. Also, the Danish prime minister was snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize, so that means that they're going to invade us if we don't comply with the sale.

[–] Bluewing@lemmy.world 10 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I would be inclined to listen to their trade offers of California. I would also offer Minnesota to Canada for a future draft pick.........

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] bss03@infosec.pub 7 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Can they buy Arkansas instead? We need a state government that respects the bodily autonomy of women, and I'd appreciate operating under Danish national law rather than a federal government run by Trump.

[–] cheesybuddha@lemmy.world 10 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I'm not sure you we should be subjecting Denmark to the people of Arkansas

[–] bss03@infosec.pub 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

As a "people of Arkansas", many of them aren't that bad, but just vote R for lower taxes. Their behavior can still be problematic, but they aren't intending to hurt anyone, even people they don't understand.

Now, some of them of monstrous religious zealots (often well-armed), and I wouldn't wish them on anyone, but I think the Danish system is just as well set up to deal with them and the American system.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] ceenote@lemmy.world 17 points 6 days ago

Frankly, I'd like to move to Denmark or Greenland, but they'd probably be understandably suspicious of me.

[–] Quilotoa@lemmy.ca 15 points 6 days ago

Canada wants to buy Minnesota. They seem like our kind of people.

[–] treesquid@lemmy.world 13 points 6 days ago (3 children)

Texas or Florida would have been a much more appropriate choice. Trump doesn't even like California.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 24 points 6 days ago (4 children)

No one wants to buy Florida.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] some_kind_of_guy@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago

Maybe he'll just give it away then

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Minimac@lemmy.ml 6 points 5 days ago

I should moving to Denmark because I’m part of Denmark so fuck America!!!!

[–] Omegamanthethird@lemmy.world 15 points 6 days ago

Apparently I need to move to California.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 14 points 6 days ago (3 children)

California is one of the few states (most) Americans would not want to give up.

How about some of the Deep South?

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 25 points 6 days ago (2 children)

What will you pay us to take it?

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 10 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

I guess Alabama would be really expensive for us to pay you to take. Maybe Florida?

Alabama residents receive over $60 billion from the federal government—23% of all personal income.

These payments, known as transfer payments, include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veteran’s benefits, unemployment, Pell Grants, and others.* The report explains how an aging population and shrinking economic opportunities have shifted many communities into reliance on these transfer payments.

To put the $60 billion in perspective, Alabama’s four automakers generate $6.4 billion in total compensation, according to a report from Autos Drive America and the American International Automobile Dealers Association, as reported by al.com. That’s about one-tenth of the amount received from federal transfer payments.

In other words, a 10% reduction in these payments would have a similar economic effect on personal income as shuttering Alabama’s entire auto industry.

https://parcalabama.org/alabamas-60-billion-question/

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 7 points 5 days ago

I'm not sure about the countries and what they do. Is Norway running Denmark? Will this finally get trump the Holland Peace Prize? /s

[–] sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz 9 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Oh damn, don't tease me with a good time. I'm not a rich man, but I'd make a donation to help pay for the purchase.

[–] SippyCup@lemmy.ml 6 points 5 days ago

I will gladly move to California ahead of the purchase.

Quite honestly Trump could tout this as a win. Huge buyout and they get rid of a bunch of uppity liberals.

[–] razen@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago

I as an Asian support this deal. Please go ahead with it.

[–] NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml 10 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

200,000, that's almost an entire suburb of LA!

[–] thenextguy@lemmy.world 10 points 6 days ago
[–] AlexLost@lemmy.world 9 points 6 days ago

California must be worried about the scourge of Mexico on the border. Let Denmark take over and mooth over the relationship and let free trade and immigration flow across the border once more. Further, Cali would instantly be the most populous Danish property over night.

[–] LogicalDrivel@sopuli.xyz 7 points 6 days ago

Shit, wait for me to get there first!

load more comments
view more: next ›