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Billy Long Apologizes for Controversial '52nd State' Joke

2/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

Billy Long, a former Republican congressman and nominee for U.S. ambassador to Iceland, faced backlash after joking that Iceland should become the '52nd state'.
He apologized during a Senate hearing, saying the remark was inappropriate and meant in jest.
The Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs questioned the remark.
Public petitions followed against his nomination.
Long’s comment follows controversial statements from the Trump era about foreign territories, including Canada and Greenland.

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Story summary

Billy Long, a former Republican congressman and nominee for U.S. ambassador to Iceland, faced backlash after joking that Iceland should become the '52nd state'.
He apologized during a Senate hearing, saying the remark was inappropriate and meant in jest.
The Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs questioned the remark.
Public petitions followed against his nomination.
Long’s comment follows controversial statements from the Trump era about foreign territories, including Canada and Greenland.