Claim:
Denmark has offered to buy California from the U.S. for $1 trillion.
Verdict: False
The Facts:
A viral claim circulating on social media suggests that Denmark has responded to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s past interest in acquiring Greenland by making a $1 trillion bid to buy California. However, this claim is entirely false.
No Official Offer from Denmark
- The Danish government has not made any formal proposal to buy California.
- A spokesperson from Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to factcheck 360 that no such offer exists.
- Multiple credible news outlets have reported that the claim originated from an online petition and was never a real diplomatic move.
The Petition is Satirical
- The claim stems from a petition that has been widely shared online, calling for the “Denmarkification” of California.
- The petition seeks to crowdfund $1 trillion to “buy” the state, using humor and exaggerated claims.
- The petition’s slogan, “Måke Califørnia Great Ægain,” mimics Trump’s famous MAGA slogan but includes Danish letters (Æ, Ø, and Å).
- Other humorous elements in the petition include renaming Disneyland to Hans Christian Andersenland and giving Mickey Mouse a Viking helmet.
- Danish news outlet TV2 and Politico have confirmed that the petition was created by French-Swiss activist Xavier Dutoit, who admitted that his goal was to use satire to critique U.S. politics.
The Bigger Picture
- The viral nature of this claim appears to be a reaction to Trump’s past interest in acquiring Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.
- In 2019, Trump publicly expressed a desire to purchase Greenland, which was met with strong opposition from Danish officials.
- The satirical petition flips the narrative, using humor to highlight the absurdity of land purchases between countries.
Economic Context
- According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), California is the world’s fifth-largest economy, with a GDP of nearly $3.9 trillion in 2023—larger than the entire Danish economy.
- The idea that Denmark could afford to purchase California is economically implausible, further proving the satirical nature of the claim.
The Verdict
Denmark has not made any official offer to buy California. The viral petition is a satirical stunt meant to draw attention to Trump’s past remarks on Greenland. Therefore, this claim is false.
