Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Iceland Summons U.S. Ambassador Over Trump’s Flag Map
Donald Trump shared a map online that showed Iceland and several other places under the United States flag.
The map labeled all of those areas as the United States of America.
Iceland’s government thought the picture was inappropriate.
It asked the United States ambassador to explain the situation.
Trump did not give an explanation for posting the map.
Greenland is especially sensitive because Trump has previously said the United States should acquire it.
Greenland’s government and people have said they do not want to become American.
The incident also came as Europe was discussing closer ties with Greenland.
Iceland summoned United States Ambassador Billy Long after Donald Trump posted a map depicting Iceland under the American flag.
The map showed the United States, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean labeled as the United States of America.
Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Gunnarsdottir said the post was completely inappropriate.
Trump posted the image on Truth Social without providing an explanation.
The incident renewed tensions linked to Trump’s previous assertions that the United States should acquire Greenland.
- Who
- Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Gunnarsdottir summoned United States Ambassador Billy Long after President Donald Trump posted the map.
- What
- Iceland objected to a social-media image showing Iceland and other territories under the United States flag and labeled as the United States of America.
- When
- The ambassador was summoned on Monday; Trump’s post appeared hours after the European Commission announced a Greenland investment.
- Where
- The diplomatic exchange took place in Iceland, while the image was posted on Trump’s Truth Social platform.
- Why
- Iceland said the post was completely inappropriate, amid continuing tensions over Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland.
Icelandic and Danish Objections
Trump’s Unexplained Post
Meaning of the map
Icelandic and Danish Objections
Iceland said the depiction was completely inappropriate, while Mette Frederiksen emphasized that Greenland’s government and people do not want to be American.
Trump’s Unexplained Post
Donald Trump posted the image on Truth Social but did not provide an explanation or stated policy alongside it.
Regional concerns
Icelandic and Danish Objections
The image was viewed against the backdrop of tensions over Trump’s assertions that the United States should acquire Greenland and concerns about United States reliability in Europe.
Trump’s Unexplained Post
No direct explanation or response from Trump, the United States State Department or United States diplomatic missions was reported.
- Diplomatic action
- Iceland summoned United States Ambassador Billy Long.
- Iceland’s response
- The Icelandic foreign ministry said the post was completely inappropriate.
- Map depiction
- The image placed Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean under the United States flag.
- Trump’s explanation
- Donald Trump posted the image without explanation.
- Greenland investment
- The European Commission announced a €200 million investment in Greenland hours before the post.
- Greenland’s position
- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Greenland’s government and people do not want to be American.
- Ambassador’s tenure
- Billy Long formally took up the ambassadorial post the previous month.