THOUSANDS OF ICELANDIC people have signed a petition after President Donald Trump’s ambassador nominee privately joked to House of Representatives politicians that Iceland would be the “52nd state” with himself as governor. 

According to Politico, US Republican Billy Long made the comment on the House of Representatives floor on Tuesday night.

Arctic Today reported yesterday that Long has apologised to the publication for the comment, saying that it was made in response to a joke about US Special Envoy to Greenland Jeff Landry becoming governor of Greenland.

Long told Artic Today that there was “nothing serious” about the comments and “if anyone took offense to it, then [he apologises]”.

His comments prompted thousands to sign a petition calling on foreign minister, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, to reject Long as ambassador. The petition calls the comments “offensive to Iceland and the Icelandic people, who have had to fight for their freedom and have always been a friend to the United States”.

Despite his apology, the petition against Long’s appointment remains live.

The Icelandic Foreign Ministry yesterday confirmed that they have contacted the US embassy in Reykjavík seeking clarification about the comments. 

Speaking to local outlet Morgunblaðið, Liberal Reform Party member, Viðreisn Sigmar Guðmundsson said the comments represented a fundamental disrespect for the sovereignty of small nations.

The Liberal Reform Party is part of Iceland’s ruling coalition and has been in power since 2024. Speaking to Morgunblaðið Guðmundsson likened Long’s comments to the Trump administration’s ongoing discussion over Greenland’s future: “We need to understand that all the security arguments made by the U.S. regarding Greenland, also apply to Iceland.” 

Long, who has not been confirmed as ambassador yet, said he looks forward to “working with the people of Iceland” and he apologises that “it was taken that way”. 

A bipartisan meeting between US lawmakers and Denmark’s leaders is due to take place today reassure them of congressional support despite Trump’s threats to ‘conquer’ the territory.

This week France and Germany pledged to send troops to Greenland amid ongoing threats from Trump to take over the Danish territory. 

Also this week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in what they hoped would clear up “misunderstandings” after Trump’s bellicose language toward the Nato ally.

“We didn’t manage to change the American position. It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told reporters after the meeting.

“And we made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of the kingdom.”

Trump insisted, hours before the talks, that Nato should support the US effort to take control of Greenland, even though major European allies have all lined up to back Denmark.

Trump said Greenland was “vital” for his planned Golden Dome air and missile defence system.

“Anything less than that is unacceptable,” he wrote on his Truth Social network. “If we don’t, Russia or China will.”