On Wednesday, thousands of Icelanders reacted after reports that Donald Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to Iceland, former congressman Billy Long, joked that Iceland should become the “52nd state” and that he would be its governor. The remark was reported hours before senior officials from Greenland and Denmark were due to meet US counterparts over tensions in the Arctic. Iceland’s foreign ministry said it contacted the US embassy in Reykjavík to seek clarification. Within hours a petition demanding that foreign minister Katrín Gunnarsdóttir reject Long’s nomination gathered more than 3,200 signatures.
Key takeaways
- Report of a joke: Politico reported that Billy Long reportedly joked to colleagues that Iceland should be the 52nd US state and he would be governor.
- Swift official response: Iceland’s ministry for foreign affairs contacted the US embassy to verify the alleged comments.
- Public backlash: A petition asking the foreign minister to reject Long hit over 3,200 signatures within hours of launch.
- Apology issued: Long told Arctic Today he made the remark in jest and apologised if anyone was offended.
- Political sensitivity: The timing came as Greenland and Danish officials were due to meet US representatives amid earlier US expressions of interest in Arctic territories.
- Security concerns: Icelandic MPs warned the comments heightened worries about respect for the sovereignty of small states in the region.
Background
Iceland is a NATO member with long-standing security and defence ties to the United States; those links include a historically significant US military presence in the mid-20th century and ongoing cooperation on defence and Arctic policy. The Arctic has become a focal point of strategic competition and diplomatic attention in recent years, with Greenland and Iceland located on routes and sites of importance to NATO and to broader geostrategic calculations. US interest in the Arctic resurfaced publicly in 2019 and has continued to generate debate in capitals across Europe and in Copenhagen and Reykjavík.
Public sensitivity in Iceland to external comments about sovereignty is shaped by that island nation’s modern history and its position as a small state among larger powers. Icelandic political leaders and civil society often emphasise national independence even while maintaining close ties with allies. That context helps explain why an offhand remark about changing statehood — even framed as a joke — could provoke rapid political and popular pushback.
Main event
The initial report of the comment appeared in a Politico newsletter on Wednesday, which said it had heard that Billy Long had joked to associates that Iceland should be the 52nd state and that he would be governor. The timing was notable: the report emerged hours before scheduled meetings in Washington between US officials and senior representatives from Greenland and Denmark aimed at addressing recent tensions over Arctic policy.
Iceland’s ministry for foreign affairs confirmed to The Guardian that it contacted the US embassy in Reykjavík to ask whether the alleged comments had been made. A public petition calling on foreign minister Katrín Gunnarsdóttir to reject Long’s nomination appeared shortly after the story circulated; the petition argued the remarks were offensive and asked for a replacement nominee. By the time of reporting, more than 3,200 people had signed the petition.
Billy Long later spoke to Arctic Today and apologised, saying the comment was made in jest while joking with friends about Jeff Landry — the US special envoy to Greenland — and should not be read as serious policy. Long is reported to have said he regretted causing offence and looked forward to working with the people of Iceland if confirmed. Icelandic lawmakers and commentators, however, described the joke as tone-deaf given the wider sensitivities in the region.
Analysis & implications
Even offhand comments from a US ambassadorial nominee can carry outsized diplomatic consequences when uttered amid heightened regional tensions. In the Arctic context, rhetorical slippage can inflame concerns about sovereignty, strategic positioning, and the intentions of great powers. Iceland’s government has to balance maintaining close security and defence ties with the United States against domestic expectations that its sovereignty and national dignity be respected.
Politically, the episode is likely to complicate confirmation conversations in Washington and to create awkward public diplomacy moments between Reykjavík and the US embassy. For a small state, symbolic affronts can translate into tangible political pressure: ministers and MPs in Reykjavík felt compelled to seek clarification formally rather than leave the issue to private channels. That response signals that even benign intent may require more careful handling in zones of strategic sensitivity.
Economically and militarily, the longer-term implications are muted so long as formal US policy does not change; the United States has no declared plan to annex Iceland. Nonetheless, the incident underscores the fragility of trust in alliance relationships when public statements feed domestic backlash. If similar remarks recur, they could lead Icelandic policymakers to press for clearer guarantees about consultation and respect in Arctic policymaking.
Comparison & data
| Metric | This episode | Earlier Arctic episode (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Petition signatures (initial hours) | 3,200+ | — |
| Public US proposal visibility | Reported jest about statehood | US interest in Greenland widely covered |
| Diplomatic follow-up | Foreign ministry contacted US embassy | Danish and Greenland meetings with US officials |
The table summarises the immediate measurable public reaction (petition signatures) and compares the current episode’s visibility to past moments when US interest in Arctic territories drew attention. While numerical comparisons are limited, the speed of online petitioning illustrates how quickly domestic audiences can signal concern in the social-media era.
Reactions & quotes
Icelandic officials and politicians framed the comment as serious in tone because of the wider Arctic context. A member of parliament in Reykjavík warned that joking about sovereignty touches a nerve for small states whose strategic positions attract great-power interest.
“It goes without saying that this is extremely serious for a small country like Iceland,”
Sigmar Guðmundsson, MP (Liberal Reform)
Context: Guðmundsson told the Icelandic newspaper Morgunblaðið that the joke was ill-judged given contemporaneous tensions over Greenland and that security arguments used by the US in relation to Greenland also apply to Iceland. His remarks framed the public reaction and helped galvanise calls for clarification from Reykjavík.
Long’s apology sought to defuse the situation by describing the exchange as private ribbing among acquaintances and by expressing regret for any offence caused. Arctic Today recorded his comment that the remark was not serious and that he apologised to anyone who took offence.
“There was nothing serious about that … if anyone took offence to it, then I apologise,”
Billy Long, US ambassador nominee (quoted to Arctic Today)
Unconfirmed
- There is no confirmed evidence that US policy makers intend to change Iceland’s status; the reported comment remains characterised as a joke by the nominee.
- Media reports attribute the initial account to Politico’s newsletter; direct contemporaneous transcripts or audio of the exchange have not been published publicly.
- Any internal US deliberations about Arctic governance or territorial claims that might relate to this remark have not been disclosed and remain unconfirmed.
Bottom line
The incident shows how even casual remarks by a diplomatic nominee can provoke significant public and political responses when uttered against a backdrop of heightened regional sensitivity. Iceland’s quick, formal request for clarification and the rapid mobilization of petition signatories underline that small states guard sovereignty vigorously and expect courtesy from partner countries.
For Washington, the episode is a reminder that appointees’ words matter in fragile theatres; the administration and congressional confirmation processes may now face additional scrutiny. For ReykjavÍk, the immediate priority will be to secure clear, formal assurances about respect for Icelandic sovereignty while continuing routine cooperation with the United States.
Sources
- The Guardian (international news outlet; original report on Iceland reaction)
- Politico (international political news outlet; initial newsletter report cited)
- Arctic Today (regional news outlet; published Long’s quoted apology)
- Morgunblaðið (Icelandic national newspaper; reported MP Sigmar Guðmundsson’s comments)
- Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland (official; Reykjavík confirmation that the ministry contacted the US embassy)