Iceland Summons U.S. Ambassador Over Trump’s Expansionist Map

Iceland’s foreign minister summoned U.S. Ambassador Billy Long on Monday after President Trump posted a map on Truth Social showing Iceland, Canada, Greenland, Mexico, and Caribbean islands covered by the American flag. Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir told reporters the post was “completely inappropriate” and, if intended as a joke, a bad one. The map carried no caption or explanation.

What the map showed

Trump posted the image to Truth Social on September 8 without explanation. The map depicted North America, Greenland, Iceland, Central America, and the Caribbean all covered by the U.S. flag and labeled “United States of America.” The post follows Trump’s previous statements about acquiring Greenland and Canada, but marks the first time he has visually included Iceland, Mexico, and Caribbean nations like Cuba and Jamaica in such a territorial display.

Iceland’s formal response

Iceland’s Foreign Ministry summoned Ambassador Long, who took office last month, for a formal meeting on Monday. Gunnarsdottir said at a press conference that the message was “absurd” and insulting to Icelanders, Greenlanders, and Canadians. “There is nothing funny or normal about making fun of the sovereignty of states,” she stated, according to reporting from The Hill. Long had previously apologized for joking about Iceland becoming the 52nd U.S. state.

Trump’s pattern of territorial rhetoric

Trump has repeatedly expressed ambition to acquire Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, citing Arctic strategy and concerns about Russian and Chinese activity. In January, he said U.S. control of Greenland was “unacceptable” and initially declined to rule out military force, though later said he would not use force. He has also advocated making Canada the 51st state, calling it “a real thing” in February 2025, and ordered Lake Ontario renamed “Lake America” for official U.S. use. Vice President J.D. Vance called Canada a “state” last month before apologizing for the “Freudian slip.”

International pushback

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in Nuuk on Monday that Greenland’s government and people have “said again and again that they do not want to be American.” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reaffirmed Mexico’s sovereignty on social media. Iceland voted against reopening EU membership talks on August 29, with Trump’s designs on Greenland cited as a backdrop concern. The European Commission announced a $232.50 million investment in Greenland during a visit by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, signaling European support for the territory’s independence.

Final Thoughts

Trump’s map post has escalated diplomatic tensions across the Arctic and North Atlantic. With Iceland formally summoning the ambassador and multiple nations reaffirming sovereignty, the post underscores how Trump’s territorial rhetoric continues to strain U.S. relations with NATO allies Denmark, Canada, and Iceland.

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