Iceland Leads Backlash to Trump’s Expansionist Map

Iceland has condemned a map shared by US President Donald Trump on Truth Social that depicted Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Mexico and several Caribbean and Central American countries as US territories. The image, which was posted without a caption or explanation, was covered with the US flag and appeared amid Trump’s repeated statements about expanding American influence and potentially acquiring territory in the Western Hemisphere. Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir summoned US Ambassador Billy Long and told Icelandic broadcaster RUV that the post was “completely inappropriate.” She said the diplomatic démarche was intended to make clear that Iceland is a sovereign and independent country responsible for its own future. Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir called the image an insult and said there was nothing normal or amusing about mocking the sovereignty of states. The post also drew criticism from Denmark, whose kingdom includes Greenland, and from Mexico. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke described the image as alarming and inappropriate, while Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated that Greenlanders do not want to become American. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico would remain a free, independent and sovereign country. The incident follows months of Trump discussing the possibility of making Canada a US state, taking control of Greenland and Cuba, and renaming geographic features. Iceland has previously been mentioned by Trump in error while he discussed Greenland. Although Iceland relies on the US for security under a 1951 defence agreement, the episode has contributed to domestic concerns about geopolitical instability and Iceland’s relationship with Europe. The article also notes that Trump’s ambassador nominee, Billy Long, previously suggested Iceland could become the 52nd US state before apologising.

Iceland has summoned U.S. Ambassador Billy Long after President Donald Trump posted a map on Truth Social depicting the United States, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean beneath the American flag. Reykjavik condemned the image as unacceptable, particularly because it appeared amid Trump’s repeated calls for U.S. control of Greenland and posts promoting the renaming of New Mexico as “New America.” Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Gunnarsdottir said the government needed to make clear that the post was not acceptable from Iceland’s perspective. She rejected the suggestion that the image could be treated as a joke and reaffirmed Iceland’s support for Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, in the face of Trump’s annexation threats. Iceland, a Nordic country with nearly 400,000 residents, has also recently rejected reopening negotiations to join the European Union, citing domestic priorities including fishing policy. The post triggered criticism beyond Iceland. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called it disturbing and inappropriate, arguing that it reflected a maximalist vision that needed to be restrained. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also objected, emphasizing that Mexico is and will remain a free, independent and sovereign nation rather than a colony or protectorate of another country. The article places the diplomatic dispute within the broader context of Trump’s longstanding interest in acquiring or controlling Greenland on national security grounds. It also notes that Trump appeared to confuse Greenland and Iceland during an earlier address at the World Economic Forum in Davos. A White House spokesperson had not responded to CNBC’s request for comment at the time of publication. The reactions from Iceland, Denmark and Mexico illustrate the growing diplomatic backlash to Trump’s territorial rhetoric and the concern that symbolic social-media posts could challenge national sovereignty.

An NPR report dated September 9, 2026, says Iceland summoned the U.S. ambassador after President Trump shared a map on Truth Social. The map depicted Iceland, along with several other countries, covered by an American flag. The article presents the summons as Iceland’s diplomatic response to the image, though the available text does not explain why Trump posted the map, which other nations appeared in it, or what Iceland’s government said about the depiction. It also does not include a response from the U.S. ambassador or additional details about any subsequent diplomatic discussions. The report is attributed to NPR journalist Adrienne Murray and is identified as a World story that was also featured on Morning Edition. Its central focus is the tension created by a social-media post from the U.S. president and the resulting action by Icelandic authorities. The wording is factual and restrained, describing the map and the summons without explicitly characterizing either the image or Iceland’s response. Nevertheless, the event carries a negative diplomatic implication because a foreign government has called in the U.S. ambassador over presidential conduct or messaging. Based on the supplied excerpt, the report’s primary purpose is to inform readers about the incident rather than to offer extensive analysis, argument, or commentary. The excerpt is brief and appears to contain only the article’s headline, summary, and opening sentence, so it provides limited information about the broader political context or the consequences of the summons.