Trump's map post sparks diplomatic complaints from Iceland and Denmark

U.S. President Donald Trump posted a map on his social-media platform that showed the United States covering North America, Greenland and Iceland, using the colors of the American flag. The image, shared over the long holiday weekend, did not include an explanation but echoed his earlier statements about making Canada a 51st state and taking over Greenland, a territory of Denmark.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called the post "disturbing and, in many ways, completely inappropriate," adding that it reflected a "maximalist vision" that needed to be restrained.

Icelandic Foreign Secretary Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir summoned U.S. Ambassador Billy Long for a meeting, stating that the post was unacceptable.

The incident comes as the European Union has pledged a stronger partnership and significant investment for Greenland, following Trump’s repeated remarks about U.S. control of the island. Iceland, a NATO member located 180 miles from Greenland, moved up a referendum on EU membership after the president mistakenly mentioned the country several times while discussing Greenland. Voters rejected the measure on Aug. 30.

In Iceland, thousands signed a petition urging the prime minister to reject Ambassador Long after he previously joked about Iceland becoming the 52nd U.S. state and serving as its governor; Long later apologized and assumed his post in Reykjavik.

Trump has also frequently suggested that Canada become a U.S. state, sparked a trade dispute with the country, and renamed Lake Ontario as "Lake America." Over the Labor Day weekend, he proposed renaming the state of New Mexico to "New America."