World

Iceland Summons US Envoy Over Trump's North America Map Showing Region Under US Flag

By Akriti Anand

Iceland has summoned the US ambassador after President Donald Trump posted a social media map depicting the United States, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Mexico, Central America and parts of the Caribbean, including Cuba and Jamaica, covered entirely in the red, white and blue stars and stripes of the American flag. The map, shared on Trump's Truth Social account on Monday, labeled the entire landmass "United States of America" without any accompanying explanation.

Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir called in US Ambassador Billy Long to express that the post was unacceptable, according to national broadcaster RUV, as reported by the Associated Press.

The map drew particular attention in Iceland, which lies roughly 180 miles from Greenland and has previously found itself entangled in Trump's remarks about the Danish territory. Trump had earlier mistakenly referred to Iceland four times while discussing his interest in acquiring Greenland. That incident, combined with broader concerns about US intentions, prompted Iceland's coalition government to move up a referendum on resuming EU membership talks, originally scheduled for next year. Voters ultimately rejected the referendum proposal on August 30.

Ambassador Long had also previously faced backlash in Iceland after joking earlier this year about the country becoming the 52nd US state and himself serving as its governor, a comment that prompted thousands of Icelanders to sign a petition opposing his appointment. Long later apologized and began his post in Reykjavik last month.

The map also triggered criticism from Danish officials. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, speaking from Nuuk, reiterated that Greenland's government and population have consistently rejected the idea of becoming part of the United States. "I hope no one is in any doubt about that, either in the United States or the rest of the world," she told Danish news agency Ritzau.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called the post "disturbing and, in many ways, completely inappropriate," telling broadcaster DR that it reflected a "maximalist vision" held by Trump that needed to be curbed.

Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in Greenland since returning to office last year. The European Union has responded by pledging hundreds of millions of euros in investment and a strengthened partnership with the territory.

The map controversy coincided with ongoing US-Canada trade tensions, with both countries having imposed tariffs on each other's goods over the past month. Trump had also previously signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario, which shares its name with a Canadian province, as "Lake America."

Over the Labor Day weekend, Trump additionally proposed renaming the US state of New Mexico as "New America." Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded by asserting that Mexico "is neither nor will be a colony or protectorate of any foreign country," adding on social media, "Proudly we are a free, independent, and sovereign nation."