President Donald Trump’s social media post depicting Iceland and other nations under the American flag has triggered a diplomatic backlash. Reykjavik summoned the US ambassador on Tuesday to protest the image.

Trump posted the map on Truth Social on Monday, showing the US, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean covered by the US flag and labeled "United States of America." He did not explain the image.

Diplomatic Backlash

Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir summoned US Ambassador Billy Long, conveying that the post was "entirely inappropriate," according to Icelandic public broadcaster RÚV.

Gunnarsdóttir later described the message as "absurd" and insulting to Icelanders, Greenlanders and Canadians. She stated, "There is nothing funny or normal about making fun of the sovereignty of states. If this is supposed to be a joke, then it is a bad joke."

The map also drew criticism from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who reiterated Greenland’s opposition to becoming part of the United States. "The Greenlandic government and the Greenlandic people have said again and again that they do not want to be American," Frederiksen said.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also pushed back, asserting that Mexico "is neither nor will be a colony or protectorate of any foreign country."

Previous Territorial Ambitions

Trump has previously discussed acquiring Greenland and making Canada the 51st state. He has also mentioned reclaiming control of the Panama Canal for economic security reasons.

Earlier this month, Trump renewed his push to bring Greenland under US control, citing national security and the island’s strategic Arctic location. Denmark and Greenland had rejected the proposal, with Frederiksen stating, "Greenland is, of course, not for sale." Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the island would choose Denmark over the US if forced to pick.

Trump repeatedly suggested that Canada could become the 51st US state, a proposal Canadian leaders consistently rejected. As trade tensions escalated, Trump criticized Canada for wanting "the benefits of being a state, without being one." He previously referred to Prime Minister Mark Carney as the "future Governor of Canada."

Renaming Proposals

On Sunday, Trump suggested renaming New Mexico to "New America." He posted a separate map showing "Mexico" crossed out on the state name and replaced with "America," calling the change more prestigious.

Earlier this month, he proposed renaming the Strait of Hormuz as "Trump Strait." Last month, he renamed Lake Ontario to "Lake America" via executive order. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the move, noting the lake’s Indigenous-origin name predates both countries by more than 400 years.

Trump’s name was also restored to the Kennedy Center, with plans to rename its grounds "President Donald J. Trump Plaza." In July, Palm Beach International Airport was renamed The President Donald J. Trump International Airport.

Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 36% in the latest NBC News poll, marking a new low for his second term. The decline is largely attributed to voter dissatisfaction with the handling of the Iran War.

The disapproval rating rose to 64%, up from the spring poll conducted in March and April. The current survey was carried out between August 20 and September 1.

Republican Support Erosion

Support among Trump’s base has weakened, with Republican approval dropping to 80% from 83% in the spring. Notably, only 41% of Republicans strongly approve of Trump, down from 52%. This marks the first time in the NBC poll that the strong approval rating among Republicans has fallen below 50%.

Iran War Impact

The Iran War remains the primary driver of negative sentiment, contributing to higher gas prices. Only 31% of voters approve of Trump’s handling of the conflict, compared to 69% who disapprove. This represents a slight deterioration from the spring poll figures of 33% approval and 67% disapproval.

Among Republicans, strong approval for Trump’s war handling fell to 30%, an 18-point drop from the previous poll. Among self-identified MAGA Republicans, strong approval declined by 21 points to 43%.

Market Context

Despite the political headwinds, equity markets have continued to perform well. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY) is up 12.1% year-to-date, having hit all-time highs last month. However, the disconnect between market performance and voter opinion on the war suggests that economic indicators alone may not offset political dissatisfaction.

What the Numbers Show

The divergence between overall Republican approval (80%) and strong approval (41%) indicates a significant softening in the intensity of support within Trump’s core base. While the majority still approve, the drop in strong approval below the 50% threshold signals a potential vulnerability in mobilizing loyal supporters, particularly regarding foreign policy decisions like the Iran War.