Iceland's Foreign Minister, Thorgerdur Gunnarsdottir, summoned US Ambassador Billy Long after President Donald Trump posted a social media image showing Iceland under the American flag. The graphic claimed a combined landmass including the US, Canada, Greenland, and others as "United States of America". The move has sparked diplomatic tensions, with officials in Reykjavík expressing "strong disapproval" and calling the post "completely inappropriate". This is not Trump's first foray into claiming territories, following years of asserting a need to acquire Greenland.
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.
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.
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Trump → flare → 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".
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landmass → share → America
The post immediately raised concerns in international diplomatic circles and prompted a swift response from officials in Reykjavík.
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post → raise → Reykjavík
Iceland's Foreign Minister, Thorgerdur Gunnarsdottir, officially called in Billy Long, the U.S. ambassador to Iceland, to discuss the matter.
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Minister → call → 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.
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who → assume → graphic
In a statement to local broadcaster RUV, the foreign ministry said, "The position was clearly expressed that the post was completely inappropriate."
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post → say → RUV
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.
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Department → follow → 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.
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U.S. → come → 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.
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statements → generate → region
In Iceland, the surrounding geopolitical debate has also touched upon domestic policy decisions.
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debate → surround → decisions
Just last month, Icelandic voters participated in a referendum in which they voted against reopening talks for accession to the European Union.
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they → participate → Union
Throughout that campaign, Trump's publicized plans for neighboring Greenland often served as a significant political backdrop.
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plans → publicize → 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.
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voters → point → box
Furthermore, Trump's social media post was published only hours after European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the region.
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leaders → publish → 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.
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Leyen → visit → 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.
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they → speak → Nuuk
The diplomatic friction follows persistent confusion within the White House about the distinct identities of Greenland and Iceland.
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friction → follow → Greenland
Reports revealed that Trump previously mixed up the two Atlantic territories during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
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Trump → reveal → Davos
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.
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officials → hire → 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.
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Iceland → note → governor
Long later apologized, clarifying the remarks were a joke, but the incident has underscored the heightened sensitivity surrounding North Atlantic territorial sovereignty.
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incident → apologize → sovereignty
