Candidate For U.S. Ambassador To Iceland Says Country Will Become '52nd State'

• 16.01.2026, 17:09

He had to apologize.

Former United States House of Representatives member Billy Long, who was nominated by President Donald Trump to be ambassador to Iceland, joked about the country's likely becoming the "52nd state" of the United States. This was written on January 14 by Politico.

According to the media, Long made such a statement on January 13 while speaking to members of Congress.

After the "joke," the Icelandic Foreign Ministry, upon request from local media, said it had contacted the U.S. Embassy and wanted to verify the veracity of the claims. In addition, Icelanders have launched a petition calling for Long to be denied the appointment.

"These words by Billy Long, who was nominated by Donald Trump to be ambassador to Iceland, may have been said in a low voice, but they are insulting to Iceland and Icelanders who had to fight for their freedom and have always been a friend of the United States," the petition reads.

After the backlash, Long confirmed to Arctic Today that it was a joke. Allegedly, lawmakers present in Congress began teasing him that US Presidential Special Envoy Jeff Landry was "going to be the governor of Greenland" and he reacted that way.

"There was nothing serious about it .... If it offended anyone, I apologize," Long said.

He also added that he looks forward to working with the people in Iceland.