Trump’s Iceland ambassador nominee apologizes for joking about island as 52nd state

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Former Rep. Billy Lengthy, who was nominated by President Donald Trump to be ambassador to Iceland, has apologized after privately joking to Home lawmakers that the Arctic island would change into the "52nd state" with him as its governor.

Lengthy, a Republican who represented Missouri from 2011 to 2023 and served a quick stint as IRS commissioner final 12 months, stated he was simply joking together with his former congressional colleagues.

"There was nothing critical about that, I used to be with some folks, who I hadn’t met for 3 years, and so they have been kidding about Jeff Landry being governor of Greenland and so they began joking about me and if anybody took offense to it, then I apologize," Lengthy advised Arctic In the present day.

"I apologize and that’s my solely remark, I sit up for working with the folks of Iceland and I apologize it was taken that method, I used to be with a gaggle of pals and there was nothing critical about it," he added.

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

Former Rep. Billy Lengthy apologized after privately joking that the Arctic island would change into the "52nd state" with him as its governor. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos)

Trump lately named Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as a particular envoy to Greenland.

This comes as Trump heats up his threats to acquire Greenland , a Danish territory, saying he plans to take the island "someway."

"We're going to do one thing on Greenland, whether or not they prefer it or not," Trump stated final week. "As a result of if we do not do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we're not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor."

Trump administration officers are brazenly weighing choices akin to army pressure to take Greenland, a transfer that will violate NATO’s Article V , which states that an assault on one member is an assault on all of them and will finish the alliance of greater than 75 years.

TRUMP GREENLAND TAKEOVER WOULD END NATO, DENMARK ASSERTS

Billy Lengthy represented Missouri from 2011 to 2023 and served a quick stint as IRS commissioner final 12 months. (Getty Photos)

Denmark and different European nations have made strikes, together with sending extra troops to Greenland in case of a U.S. invasion, backing the territory because it reaffirms its place that it doesn't need to be a part of the U.S. Iceland is among the many NATO members which have expressed opposition to Trump's repeated threats to take Greenland.

On Capitol Hill, most Democrats and even some Republicans have opposed the thought of taking Greenland, whereas different Republicans have voiced help for pursuing nearer ties with the territory, together with Rep. Randy High quality, R-Fla., who launched laws to make it the 51st U.S. state, though he stated one of the simplest ways to accumulate Greenland is voluntarily.

Trump has additionally stated he needed to make Canada the 51st U.S. state.

Lengthy was visiting former colleagues on the Home Ground earlier this week when he made the controversial remark about Iceland, sparking some minor diplomatic backlash, with Iceland's Ministry for International Affairs demanding solutions from the U.S. Embassy in Reykjavík.

Former Rep. Billy Lengthy was visiting former colleagues on the Home Ground when he made the controversial remark about Iceland. (Getty Photos)

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"There isn't any doubt that that is very critical for a small nation like Iceland," Icelandic Parliament member Sigmar Guðmundsson advised MBL. "We have to perceive that every one the safety arguments made by the U.S. relating to Greenland, additionally apply to Iceland."

Some Icelanders additionally launched a petition drive calling on their authorities to reject Lengthy as ambassador if he's confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The petition has obtained 2,000 signatures.

Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., advised Politico that Lengthy was "most likely having some enjoyable" and "I wouldn’t learn an excessive amount of into that."