Iceland's foreign affairs minister, Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, summoned US Ambassador Billy Long for a discussion after President Donald Trump posted a map on Truth Social showing Iceland and several other countries under American control. The post, made without explanation, is seen as "completely inappropriate" by the Icelandic ministry. This incident comes amid concerns over Trump's ambitions in the Arctic region, including his repeated threats to take over Greenland. A mock map showing the US annexing North America and renaming New Mexico "New America" was also posted on Truth Social this week.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
President Donald Trump posted a map on his social media platform Truth Social that showed Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Mexico, and Cuba as territories annexed by the United States. The graphic was shared without explanation on Monday, and it prompted Iceland's Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir to call in the US Ambassador to Iceland, Billy Long, for a discussion. Gunnarsdottir described Trump's post as "completely inappropriate" and expressed concerns about the implications for the Arctic region. This move comes after Icelanders voted against rejoining the European Union in a referendum last month, with some arguing that EU membership would provide greater protection from US threats like this one. The Icelandic government has officially disapproved of the graphic through diplomatic channels, with Long taking up his post as ambassador just last month.
Written for “Iceland-US Diplomatic Tensions” on 2026-09-08,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 6928 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-08
Iceland summoned the United States’s ambassador to the country for a discussion after President Donald Trump posted a map featuring the Arctic island and several other countries falling under the American flag.
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island → summon → flag
The graphic showed Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Mexico, and Cuba among the countries that the United States hypothetically annexes in this scenario.
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States → show → scenario
Trump made the Truth Social post without any explanation on Monday.
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Trump → make → Monday
Iceland’s foreign affairs minister, Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, is particularly concerned about the fake map, given Trump’s ambitions in the Arctic region.
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minister → give → region
As a result, she called in U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Billy Long, who took up the post last month.
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who → call → post
The ministry led by Gunnarsdottir described Trump’s post as “completely inappropriate.”
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ministry → lead → post
The dispute comes after the Icelandic people voted against reopening talks to join the European Union in a referendum late last month.
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people → come → referendum
The vote was held against the backdrop of Trump’s repeated threats to take over Greenland.
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vote → hold → Greenland
Some proponents of reopened EU talks argued European solidarity would provide Iceland greater protection than NATO if Trump made similar threats.
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Trump → reopen → threats
The volcanic island is a founding member of the intergovernmental military alliance.
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island → found → alliance
The president has had his eyes set on Greenland for some time, dating back to his first term.
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eyes → have → term
He believes acquiring the Arctic island would be in America’s national security interest.
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acquiring → believe → interest
Trump’s post came hours after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Greenland to announce a $232.5 million investment in the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
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Leyen → come → territory
The funds, to be used over the next two years, are designed to help combat climate change, boost internet connections, and improve hydropower plants, fisheries, and education on the island.
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funds → use → island
The mock map showing the U.S. adding Iceland and the entirety of North America to its territories wasn’t the only representation of Trump’s geographic ambitions this week.
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U.S. → show → ambitions
On Sunday, he floated the idea of renaming New Mexico “New America” in a map graphic posted on Truth Social.
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he → float → Social
The idea comes after Trump signed an executive order last month to change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America, a move that has angered Canada.
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that → come → Canada
Only New Mexico has the power to change its name.
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Mexico → have → name
