Danes launch campaign to 'buy' California from 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.