US Ambassador candidate apologizes for joke about Iceland

Bill Long, the candidate for the post of U.S. ambassador to Iceland, apologized on January 15 for joking that Iceland would be the 52nd U.S. state.

"If this offended anyone, I apologize," he said in an interview with the Arctic Today portal.

Long clarified that he was joking in response to humorous words about the newly appointed special envoy for Greenland, Jeff Landry, who will become governor of the island.

According to the publication, Long's words provoked criticism in Iceland. Local residents have created a petition to the head of the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thorgerdyre Katrin Gunnarsdouttir, demanding to refuse to accept Long as ambassador. The petition has collected more than 2 thousand signatures.

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The Politico newspaper reported on January 15 that Long jokingly stated that the country would become the 52nd American state. In addition, he added that in this case he will take the post of governor.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.