Iceland summons US ambassador after Trump posts absurd map claiming the island for America

Iceland summons US ambassador after Trump posts absurd map claiming the island for America Iceland summoned the U.S. ambassador on Monday after President Donald Trump posted an image on social media showing the island and other countries covered by the American flag - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Diplomatic tensions flared on Monday when Iceland summoned the U.S. ambassador after President Donald Trump posted an uncaptioned social media image showing the island alongside several other countries under the American flag. The graphic, shared on his Truth Social platform without explanation, depicted a map encompassing the United States, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, with the entire combined landmass explicitly labeled "United States of America". The post immediately raised concerns in international diplomatic circles and prompted a swift response from officials in Reykjavík. Iceland's Foreign Minister, Thorgerdur Gunnarsdottir, officially called in Billy Long, the U.S. ambassador to Iceland, to discuss the matter. Long, who formally assumed his diplomatic post in the capital only last month, was informed directly of the government's strong disapproval regarding the graphic. In a statement to local broadcaster RUV, the foreign ministry said, "The position was clearly expressed that the post was completely inappropriate." Following the summons, official diplomatic channels remained largely silent, with neither the U.S. State Department nor European embassies immediately replying to requests for comment. The online posting comes after years of persistent assertions by President Donald Trump regarding the strategic necessity of the U.S. acquiring Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory belonging to Denmark. These statements have repeatedly generated diplomatic friction between Washington and Copenhagen—both NATO founding member states—while raising broader concerns among European nations about U.S. foreign policy in the region. In Iceland, the surrounding geopolitical debate has also touched upon domestic policy decisions. Just last month, Icelandic voters participated in a referendum in which they voted against reopening talks for accession to the European Union. Throughout that campaign, Trump's publicized plans for neighboring Greenland often served as a significant political backdrop. While some advocates for European integration pointed to concerns over U.S. reliability as a reason to consider closer EU ties, analysts noted that voters were ultimately guided primarily by domestic economic concerns at the ballot box. Furthermore, Trump's social media post was published only hours after European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the region. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Greenland to formally announce a major €200 million ($232.50 million) investment initiative to support local development. Speaking to news agency Ritzau in Nuuk, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized that local leaders and citizens have remained consistent: "The Greenlandic government and the Greenlandic people have said again and again that they do not want to be American." The diplomatic friction follows persistent confusion within the White House about the distinct identities of Greenland and Iceland. Reports revealed that Trump previously mixed up the two Atlantic territories during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In response, officials in Reykjavík hired Washington lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck on a $25,000 monthly retainer to advise on navigating interactions with the U.S. government. Observer accounts noted the curious timing of the lobbying agreement, which came shortly after Trump's Davos speech and subsequent floor jokes by U.S. Ambassador Billy Long—who had previously quipped to former House colleagues that Iceland would become America’s 52nd state with himself as governor. Long later apologized, clarifying the remarks were a joke, but the incident has underscored the heightened sensitivity surrounding North Atlantic territorial sovereignty. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments