Since returning to office, Trump and his allies have renewed calls for Greenland to join the U.S., with the president even saying the majority of Greenland citizens “want” to become American citizens, although a recent poll of its citizens found that was not close to true.
While it’s obvious that Denmark has no realistic designs of obtaining California, the petition plays on some long-held disdain between the Golden State and the Trump Administration.
California voted overwhelmingly in support of the Democrat challenger in the last three elections featuring Trump, and Gov. Gavin Newsom has spent time in recent weeks organizing legislative priorities to resist the president’s agenda. Trump, meanwhile, has referred to California as a “failed state.“Trump puts California High-Speed Rail in crosshairs
Losing California, which in itself is the fifth-largest economy in the world, would be disastrous for the U.S.; it’s one of the few states in the Union that sends out more in federal taxes than it receives and is also a crucial component of the nation’s agriculture, energy, tech, transportation, information and entertainment sectors.
So while the prospect might sound enticing for some Californians who are interested in the perks of Danish lifestyle, including bike-centric infrastructure, improved public transit, socialized health care, baked goods and “hygge,” not even a political adversary like Trump would let the Golden State go without a fight — the same message organizers hope to convey with the petition.
“As for the will of the citizens? Well, let’s face it – when has that ever stopped [Trump]?” the petition reads.
In the meantime, Californians in favor of becoming “New Denmark” will just have to settle for a day trip to Santa Barbara County, home of the Danish Capital of the U.S.
We should counter-offer: Florida for half the price of California, and it’s on the Atlantic (maybe even throw in Alabama?)