Trump Nominee Billy Long Apologizes After ‘52nd State’ Joke Triggers Iceland Inquiry

President Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Iceland, former Republican congressman Billy Long, is attempting to contain fallout after a remark he made about Iceland becoming the “52nd state” drew sharp criticism from Reykjavík and the Icelandic public.

After a series of blunders, former GOP Rep. Billy Long was ousted as IRS commissioner after serving less than 2 months. / Andrew Harnik / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Long, who briefly served as IRS commissioner last summer for less than two months, made the comment on the House floor during a reunion with acquaintances. He later told Alaska-based news site Arctic Today that the remark was made in jest.

A panoramic view of a port area near downtown Reykjavik, Iceland. / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images

“There was nothing serious about that,” Long said. “I was with some people who I hadn’t met for three years, and they were kidding about [U.S. Special Envoy to Greenland] Jeff Landry being governor of Greenland, and they started joking about me. If anyone took offense to it, then I apologize.”

Icelandic officials did not take the comment lightly. The country’s foreign ministry opened an inquiry with the U.S. embassy in Reykjavík, and a petition urging Iceland’s foreign minister to reject Long’s nomination had gathered more than 3,800 signatures at the time of publication.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks at a press conference with other members of Senate Republican leadership following a policy luncheon in Washington, DC on October 28, 2025. / Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

“These words by Billy Long, who has been nominated by Donald Trump as ambassador to Iceland, may have been spoken in a half-hearted manner, but they are insulting to Iceland and Icelanders, who have had to fight for their freedom and have always been a friend of the United States,” the petition said in translation. It asks Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir to refuse the appointment and request a more respectful nominee from Washington.

The episode has unfolded against the backdrop of similar rhetoric by President Trump, who in past remarks suggested Canada could become the “51st state” and more recently directed attention at Greenland, even implying he would not tolerate strategic competition from other powers there. Icelandic politicians warned that Long’s comments are particularly sensitive for a small nation closely tied to NATO and transatlantic diplomacy.

Rep. Billy Long asks questions to Dr. Richard Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, during a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing to discuss protecting scientific integrity in response to the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday, May 14, 2020. / Pool / Getty Images

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told Politico he believed Long was “probably having some fun” and cautioned against overreading the remark. Still, the diplomatic reaction in Iceland underscores how offhand comments can complicate nominations and international relations.

Long’s brief tenure at the IRS ended amid criticism over missteps, including a premature announcement about the start of tax filing season and questions about his tax-administration experience. He was later announced as Trump’s pick for ambassador to Iceland; his nomination remains pending confirmation by Congress.

What’s next: Iceland’s foreign ministry will continue its inquiry with the U.S. embassy, the petition will be considered by Icelandic officials, and Long’s nomination will proceed through the normal confirmation process in the U.S. Senate.