Tensions Simmer in Iceland over US Ambassador Nominee's "52nd State" Joke
A proposed ambassador from the United States has sparked widespread outrage in Iceland after making a joke about the country becoming the 52nd state. Former Representative Billy Long, Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to Iceland, allegedly quipped that he would be the governor of such a state during an off-the-record conversation.
The remarks have ignited strong emotions among Icelanders, who are fed up with the US administration's aggressive rhetoric regarding Arctic sovereignty. Thousands of people have signed a petition calling on the government to reject Long as a candidate for ambassador, citing the joke as "offensive" and "disrespectful."
Critics argue that such flippant comments reflect a broader disregard for small nations' sovereignty in the face of US dominance. Sigmar Guðmundsson, an Icelandic MP from the governing coalition, echoed this sentiment, saying that Long's remark was "not a particularly funny joke," given the escalating tensions over Greenland.
The controversy has raised questions about Trump's priorities regarding Arctic security and his administration's willingness to engage with its Nordic allies in a respectful manner. Iceland's foreign minister, Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, has requested clarification on Long's comments, which have left many wondering if the joke was indeed meant as such.
While former Representative Long has since apologized for any offense caused, his remarks have only exacerbated tensions between the US and Iceland. The country's sovereignty remains a contentious issue, with both nations struggling to navigate competing interests in the Arctic region.
A proposed ambassador from the United States has sparked widespread outrage in Iceland after making a joke about the country becoming the 52nd state. Former Representative Billy Long, Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to Iceland, allegedly quipped that he would be the governor of such a state during an off-the-record conversation.
The remarks have ignited strong emotions among Icelanders, who are fed up with the US administration's aggressive rhetoric regarding Arctic sovereignty. Thousands of people have signed a petition calling on the government to reject Long as a candidate for ambassador, citing the joke as "offensive" and "disrespectful."
Critics argue that such flippant comments reflect a broader disregard for small nations' sovereignty in the face of US dominance. Sigmar Guðmundsson, an Icelandic MP from the governing coalition, echoed this sentiment, saying that Long's remark was "not a particularly funny joke," given the escalating tensions over Greenland.
The controversy has raised questions about Trump's priorities regarding Arctic security and his administration's willingness to engage with its Nordic allies in a respectful manner. Iceland's foreign minister, Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, has requested clarification on Long's comments, which have left many wondering if the joke was indeed meant as such.
While former Representative Long has since apologized for any offense caused, his remarks have only exacerbated tensions between the US and Iceland. The country's sovereignty remains a contentious issue, with both nations struggling to navigate competing interests in the Arctic region.
- i mean, come on, it's just a joke right? 
people need to chill out lol. but at the same time, i get why they're upset. iceland has been feeling super disrespected by trump's admin and these kinds of comments just add fuel to the fire 
. long should've just kept his mouth shut tbh 
but i guess that's not gonna happen now. anyway, can we just focus on finding a way to resolve our differences peacefully? 
instead of making it all about "offense" and "disrespect". let's talk about actual solutions for the arctic region 
This is getting out of hand, man. I mean, I get it, Long didn't realize how much heat his joke would generate, but come on! He should've kept that one under wraps, you know? 
The whole thing just makes Iceland look like they're being super sensitive, and honestly, who hasn't made a comment or two that's gonna ruffle some feathers in this country? 
I'm not saying Long's joke was cool, but is it really worth making such a big deal out of? It feels like a case of Iceland trying to assert their independence from the US. 
And what's up with Trump's whole thing with the "52nd state" anyway? Is he just messing with people's heads or what? 
icelanders rnt just fed up w/ US aggression but also feel disrespected by Long's joke. like, w/ Greenland tensions already flaring up, do we really need more rhetoric? 
it's not funny, ppl aren't laughing. what if this was meant as a genuine joke? does that make it ok? nope. the thing is, small nations rnt just pawns in US dominance games. they got voices too 
and we need diplomacy, not jokes 
Trump's gotta get his priorities straight & respect ppl's sovereignty 
. I feel bad for Long, but at the same time, I think he should've kept his mouth shut on this one 
.
Thousands of signatures on a petition already and it's not even a serious nomination lol. Can't wait to see how this plays out in real life 
. It's like, chill dude, it was a joke, didn't mean to offend anyone 
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to make sure our voices are heard 
.