Billy Long, President Trump’s ambassadorial nominee to Iceland, apologized after he was reported to have joked that Iceland could become a U.S. state. Icelandic officials contacted the U.S. Embassy to verify the remark, and a member of parliament called the comment a serious affront to the sovereignty of small nations. More than 3,500 people signed a petition urging Reykjavik to reject Long as ambassador. The episode comes amid renewed attention to President Trump’s controversial remarks about acquiring Greenland, while Iceland remains an independent country since 1944.
Trump Nominee's 'Annexation' Quip About Iceland Sparks Diplomatic Backlash
Flags of Iceland and the USA. (Getty Images)
President Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to Iceland, former Republican congressman Billy Long, has apologized after joking that Iceland might become part of the United States — a remark that drew swift criticism in Reykjavik and reignited sensitivity about U.S. interest in Arctic territory.
Long told the Alaska-based news site Arctic Today that "there was nothing serious" behind his comment and said, "If anyone took offense to it, then I apologize." Politico subsequently reported that Long was overheard on the House floor joking that Iceland would become the 52nd state and that he would be appointed governor.
Long said the exchange occurred during a conversation with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, whom President Trump has named a special envoy on Greenland as part of the administration’s ongoing comments about acquiring the vast Danish territory. "They were kidding about Jeff Landry being governor of Greenland and they started joking about me," Long told reporters.
Officials in Reykjavik, however, were not amused. Iceland’s Foreign Ministry told a local news outlet it had contacted the U.S. Embassy in Reykjavik to "examine the truthfulness of the alleged comments." Sigmar Guðmundsson, a member of Iceland’s Parliament who serves on its Foreign Affairs Committee, told the national broadcaster that Long’s remarks were "not particularly funny" and described them as "really rather serious," warning they reflect disrespect toward the sovereignty of small states.
Reykjavik, Iceland. (Getty Images)
"These are really rather serious remarks... this is extremely serious for a small country like Iceland," said Sigmar Guðmundsson.
Public reaction included an online petition with more than 3,500 signatures urging the Icelandic government to exercise its right to reject foreign ambassadors and refuse to accept Long as the U.S. representative. The petition described the remarks as "insulting to Iceland and Icelanders."
The controversy comes against the backdrop of President Trump’s repeated public statements about Greenland — which remains officially under Danish sovereignty though it has broad self-rule — and his suggestion at times that the United States might seek to acquire it, a proposal most Americans reportedly oppose according to a recent Yahoo/YouGov poll. By contrast, Iceland is an independent nation, having declared independence from Denmark in 1944. While Greenland is far larger in land area, Iceland has about seven times Greenland’s population and an economy roughly ten times larger.
Among Icelandic public figures weighing in, singer Björk posted in solidarity with Greenlanders and urged them to seek independence, warning against a change of one colonial power for another.
As debate continues, Long’s nomination and his suitability as ambassador have come under heightened scrutiny, illustrating how offhand remarks can have diplomatic consequences when they touch on national sovereignty and historic sensitivities in the Arctic region.
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