Iceland Summons U.S. Ambassador Over Trump’s Stars-and-Stripes Map of North America

Iceland summoned the U.S. ambassador to Reykjavik on September 8, 2026, after President Donald Trump posted an uncaptioned image on Truth Social depicting the United States, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean covered by the American flag and labeled “United States of America.”

Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir called in newly arrived Ambassador Billy Long to express that the post was “completely inappropriate,” according to local broadcaster RÚV and confirmed across multiple outlets. Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir publicly described the map as “an insult” and a “bad joke,” emphasizing there was “nothing funny or normal about making fun of the sovereignty of states.”

The incident occurs against a backdrop of strained relations tied to Trump’s repeated interest in acquiring Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. It follows Iceland’s narrow referendum vote against reopening EU accession talks, partly influenced by security concerns linked to U.S. policy shifts. Long had previously joked in January about Iceland becoming the “52nd state,” a remark he later called inappropriate during his confirmation hearing.

The post coincided with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Greenland announcing a €200 million investment package. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated that Greenlanders do not wish to join the United States. This episode echoes Trump’s earlier verbal stumbles at Davos, where he repeatedly referred to Iceland when discussing Greenland.

Mainstream reporting from Reuters, BBC, The New York Times, NPR, Financial Times, and The Washington Post corroborates the diplomatic summons and official Icelandic statements, underscoring how the provocative imagery has reignited tensions within NATO’s North Atlantic members.