U.S. Ambassador Nominee Apologises For 52nd State Joke

Billy Long, the nominated U.S. ambassador to Iceland, has apologised for comments he made about Iceland becoming the 52nd state of the United States, reports Arctic Today.

As reported yesterday, Billy Long joked to U.S. lawmakers that Iceland would become the 52nd state and that he would be its governor. While the U.S. government has nominated Billy Long as ambassador to Iceland, he has not yet been formally appointed to the post.

According to Arctic Today, Billy Long said: “There was nothing serious about that, I was with some people, who I hadn’t met for three years, and they were kidding about Jeff Landry being governor of Greenland and they started joking about me and if anyone took offense to it, then I apologise.”

He added that he had not been aware of reactions in Iceland to his remarks. He also said he was unaware that the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs had contacted the U.S. Embassy to verify his statements, as reported by RÚV.

In an interview with Arctic Today, Billy Long reiterated that his comments were meant as a joke and should not be taken seriously.

“I apologise and that’s my only comment, I look forward to working with the people of Iceland and I apologize it was taken that way, I was with a group of friends and there was nothing serious about it,” he said.

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