Trump’s Iceland ambassador pick apologizes for 52nd state comment

Trump’s pick for ambassador to Iceland, former U.S. Rep. Billy Long, told Arctic Today that he apologizes for comments he made Tuesday about making Iceland the 52nd state with himself as governor. He said the comments, which, according to Politico, he made on the House floor Tuesday night, were made in jest in response to a joke about Jeff Landry, President Trump’s U.S. Special Envoy to Greenland, becoming governor of Greenland.

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

The comments have sparked controversy and criticism in Iceland, and early Thursday the Icelandic Foreign Ministry confirmed to local media that it had contacted the U.S. embassy in Reykjavík seeking clarification about the comments. Furthermore, an official petition has been started demanding that Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir refuse to accept Long as ambassador. As of publication the petition has over 2,000 signatures.

Speaking to local newspaper MBL, member of the ruling party Viðreisn Sigmar Guðmundsson said the comments should be taken seriously and that they represented a fundamental disrespect for the sovereignty of small nations, connecting them to the ongoing discussion about the future of Greenland.

“There is no doubt that this is very serious for a small country like Iceland. We need to understand that all the security arguments made by the U.S. regarding Greenland, also apply to Iceland,” Guðmundsson said.

Long told Arctic Today that he was not aware of the reaction in Iceland, or of the request for comment by the ministry. Long said he could understand the reaction, especially in light of the tense diplomatic situation between Greenland, Denmark and the U.S., following repeated statements by President Trump about the U.S. taking over Greenland. However, he was adamant they were a joke and should not be taken seriously.

“I apologize and that’s my only comment, I look forward to working with the people of Iceland and I apologize it was taken that way, I was with a group of friends and there was nothing serious about it,” he said.

Long has not been confirmed for the ambassadorship by the U.S. Senate.