Trump's pick for Iceland ambassador apologizes for joking about Arctic nation becoming 52nd state

Former Rep. Billy Long, who was nominated by President Donald Trump to beryllium ambassador to Iceland, has apologized aft privately joking to House lawmakers that the Arctic land would go the "52nd state" with him arsenic its governor.

Long, a Republican who represented Missouri from 2011 to 2023 and served a little stint arsenic IRS commissioner past year, said helium was conscionable joking with his erstwhile legislature colleagues.

"There was thing superior astir that, I was with immoderate people, who I hadn’t met for 3 years, and they were kidding astir Jeff Landry being politician of Greenland and they started joking astir maine and if anyone took discourtesy to it, past I apologize," Long told Arctic Today.

"I apologize and that’s my lone comment, I look guardant to moving with the radical of Iceland and I apologize it was taken that way, I was with a radical of friends and determination was thing superior astir it," helium added.

BIPARTISAN LAWMAKERS PROPOSE BILL TO BLOCK MILITARY ACTION AGAINST NATO MEMBERS AMID THREATS TO TAKE GREENLAND

Former Rep. Billy Long apologized aft privately joking that the Arctic land would go the "52nd state" with him arsenic its governor. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Trump precocious named Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry arsenic a peculiar envoy to Greenland.

This comes arsenic Trump heats up his threats to get Greenland, a Danish territory, saying helium plans to instrumentality the land "one mode oregon the other."

"We are going to bash thing connected Greenland, whether they similar it oregon not," Trump said past week. "Because if we don't bash it, Russia oregon China volition instrumentality implicit Greenland, and we're not going to person Russia oregon China arsenic a neighbor."

Trump medication officials are openly weighing options specified arsenic subject unit to instrumentality Greenland, a determination that would interruption NATO’s Article V, which states that an onslaught connected 1 subordinate is an onslaught connected each of them and could extremity the confederation of much than 75 years.

TRUMP GREENLAND TAKEOVER WOULD END NATO, DENMARK ASSERTS

Billy Long represented Missouri from 2011 to 2023 and served a little stint arsenic IRS commissioner past year. (Getty Images)

Denmark and different European countries person made moves, including sending further troops to Greenland successful lawsuit of a U.S. invasion, backing the territory arsenic it reaffirms its presumption that it does not privation to articulation the U.S. Iceland is among the NATO members that person expressed absorption to Trump's repeated threats to instrumentality Greenland.

On Capitol Hill, astir Democrats and adjacent immoderate Republicans person opposed the thought of taking Greenland, portion different Republicans person voiced enactment for pursuing person ties with the territory, including Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., who introduced authorities to marque it the 51st U.S. state, though helium said the champion mode to get Greenland is voluntarily.

Trump has besides said helium wanted to marque Canada the 51st U.S. state.

Long was visiting erstwhile colleagues connected the House Floor earlier this week erstwhile helium made the arguable remark astir Iceland, sparking immoderate insignificant diplomatic backlash, with Iceland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs demanding answers from the U.S. Embassy successful Reykjavík.

Former Rep. Billy Long was visiting erstwhile colleagues connected the House Floor erstwhile helium made the arguable remark astir Iceland. (Getty Images)

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"There is nary uncertainty that this is precise superior for a tiny state similar Iceland," Icelandic Parliament subordinate Sigmar Guðmundsson told MBL. "We request to recognize that each the information arguments made by the U.S. regarding Greenland, besides use to Iceland."

Some Icelanders besides launched a petition thrust calling connected their authorities to cull Long arsenic ambassador if helium is confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The petition has obtained 2,000 signatures.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told Politico that Long was "probably having immoderate fun" and "I wouldn’t work excessively overmuch into that."