DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇸 Iceland /Culture & Society

“I'm in Iceland, where in the heck are you?”

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Billy Long, the new U.S. ambassador to Iceland, has created a new catchphrase: "I'm in Iceland, where the heck are you?"
  • Long expressed excitement and pride in his new role, stating that Iceland and the U.S. will achieve great things together.
  • He shared that his appointment came after former President Donald Trump offered him a choice of countries, and he and his wife immediately chose Iceland.

Billy Long, the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Iceland, has embraced his role with enthusiasm, even coining a new catchphrase: "I'm in Iceland, where the heck are you?" In a recent video, Long conveyed warm greetings to Icelanders, emphasizing the strong future relationship between Iceland and the United States.

I'm in Iceland, where the heck are you?

— Billy LongThe U.S. ambassador to Iceland introduced his new catchphrase in a video message.

Long expressed his excitement and pride in serving as ambassador, stating, "We will do great things together." He shared that the opportunity arose when former President Donald Trump presented him and his wife with a list of countries to choose from for ambassadorships. "My wife didn't even look at the list, she just glanced over it and asked: Is Iceland still available? We want to go to Iceland," Long recounted. The 71-year-old ambassador described the position as "the honor of my life."

We will do great things together.

— Billy LongThe ambassador expressed optimism about the future relationship between Iceland and the United States.

During his visit, Long attended the opening ceremony of a NATO defense exercise at the Keflavík Air Base. He praised Iceland's natural beauty and its people, noting a deep connection he already feels to the country. He advised potential visitors to add extra time to their planned stays, suggesting that even extended visits might not be enough to fully experience the nation's "sheer beauty." Long also reflected on his diverse past career, which included roles such as a mule guide at the Grand Canyon, a chef at a Chinese restaurant, a real estate agent, and an auctioneer, drawing a parallel between understanding the Grand Canyon and appreciating Iceland.

My wife didn't even look at the list, she just glanced over it and asked: Is Iceland still available? We want to go to Iceland.

— Billy LongThe ambassador recounted his wife's immediate desire to accept the ambassadorship to Iceland.

Earlier in his tenure, Long's comments about Iceland potentially becoming the 52nd U.S. state drew attention, for which he later apologized. He recently met with President Halla Tómasdóttir at Bessastaðir and also conferred with Foreign Minister Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir in Keflavík.

This is the honor of my life, and I have lived many years.

— Billy LongThe 71-year-old ambassador described his feelings about his appointment.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog