Trump’s Iceland nominee jokes about making it 52nd state amid push to annex Greenland.
Trump’s Iceland Joke
Future US Ambassador to Iceland Billy Long, former congressman from Missouri, joked during a speech at the US House of Representatives that Iceland would become the 52nd state and he would become its governor. According to Politico, the remark was part of Long’s confirmation hearing.
Political Background
Billy Long, a former IRS commissioner who was fired after just two months on the job due to lack of experience, was nominated by Trump as ambassador to Iceland on the same day of his removal from the IRS. The State Department deemed him competent for the position, and he was formally confirmed as ambassador to Iceland on January 13, 2026.
US Pressure on Greenland
The remark about Iceland comes amid growing US pressure to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. Trump has intensified his rhetoric on the Arctic territory, stating that the US will act on Greenland “regardless of whether it pleases Europe or not,” warning that Russia or China would seize the island if the US doesn’t act first.
On January 14, Trump argued that Greenland is necessary for US national security. He announced plans to build a “Golden Dome” defense system against ballistic, hypersonic, and maneuvering missiles, calling on NATO to support the initiative.
Previous Calls for Greenland Annexation
The push for territorial expansion follows a similar pattern. On January 12, Florida Republican Randy Fine introduced a bill in Congress proposing that Greenland become the 51st state of the United States.
