Greenland Designated US ambassador jokes about Iceland as a US state
There is trouble in Iceland after an allegedly joking statement by US ambassador-designate Billy Long that the island in the North Atlantic could become a US state. According to several media reports, Iceland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the local US embassy for clarification.
16.01.2026, 11:42
SDA
The news portal "Politico" had previously reported that the former Republican congressman nominated as ambassador by US President Donald Trump had joked that Iceland could become the 52nd US state - and that he himself could become its governor.
Joke in a tense diplomatic situation
Citizens in Iceland then launched a petition calling on Foreign Minister Katrín Gunnarsdóttir to reject Long as ambassador. He may not have meant the words entirely seriously, "but they are an insult to Iceland and the Icelanders who have had to fight for their freedom and have always been friends of the United States," the organizers write. By Friday morning, a good 4,100 people had signed the online petition.
Long's alleged joke comes amid a tense diplomatic situation between Greenland, Denmark and the US following repeated statements by US President Trump that America wants to buy or, if necessary, annex Greenland, which belongs to the Danish kingdom.
An apology follows later
As reported by "Arctic Today", Long later apologized for his statement. He emphasized that it had been a joke. "If anyone was offended by it, I apologize," Long told the newspaper.
Although Iceland is not a member of the EU, it is part of the European Economic Area and a founding member of NATO. Like Greenland, Iceland was once part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but became independent in 1918 and a republic in 1944.
