Thousands of people have signed a petition expressing anger after Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to Iceland reportedly joked that the Nordic country should become the 52nd US state. Politico reported that Billy Long, a former congressman chosen by Trump for the post, made the remark on the House floor, saying Iceland would be the 52nd state and he would be its governor.
Iceland's foreign ministry said it had contacted the US embassy in Reykjavík for clarification. In a statement to the Guardian, the ministry said: "The ministry for foreign affairs contacted the US embassy in Iceland to verify the veracity of the alleged comments."
A petition launched on Wednesday called on Iceland's foreign minister, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, to reject Long's nomination. It said the words "may have been said in jest. Still, they are 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." Within hours, more than 3,200 people had signed.
Long later apologised in an interview with Arctic Today, insisting the comments were a joke. He said others had been joking about Jeff Landry, Trump's special envoy to Greenland, and he had joined in. "If anyone took offence to it, then I apologise," he said. "I look forward to working with the people of Iceland and I apologise it was taken that way."
The remarks drew criticism from Icelandic politicians. Sigmar Guðmundsson, an MP from the centrist Liberal Reform party, described them as "not a particularly funny joke" given tensions over Greenland. He said the security arguments cited by the US regarding Greenland also apply to Iceland, and urged Icelanders to have the courage to discuss how the country's security interests are best served.
