EditTrump trolls Macron with publication of private message, threat of 200% wine tariffs
As Trump arrives in Davos on Wednesday for his special address, only one thing is clear: the stage is set for further confrontation
On the eve of his high-profile appearance at the World Economic Forum, U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his transatlantic sparring match with French President Emmanuel Macron, publicly sharing a private text message from the French leader and threatening crippling tariffs on French wines and champagnes.
The move, posted on Truth Social early Tuesday, comes amid mounting tensions over Trump’s demands for U.S. control of Greenland and his broader push for European alignment with American foreign policy initiatives, including the controversial “Board of Peace.”
In a series of posts, Trump first mocked Macron’s reluctance to join the U.S.-led Board of Peace – a body focused initially on Gaza reconstruction but potentially expandable to other conflicts- suggesting the French president would cave under pressure. “I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll join, but he doesn’t have to join,” Trump wrote, adding a jab at Macron’s political future: “Well, nobody wants him because he will be out of office very soon.”
Europe’s cold shoulder: Only Hungary and Albania ecstatic over Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ invite
Hours later, Trump amplified the personal attack by publishing a screenshot of what appears to be a genuine private exchange with Macron. In the message, Macron reportedly expressed confusion over Trump’s Greenland strategy, writing: “I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland.”
Trump appears to have leaked a private text message from Emmanuel Macron.
Why would any leader ever trust someone who leaks their private conversations? pic.twitter.com/vgg9fvZcaE
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) January 20, 2026
Sources close to the Élysée Palace confirmed the authenticity of the text to multiple outlets, including Reuters and The Guardian, describing it as part of ongoing diplomatic back-channeling.
Macron had reportedly invited Trump to a dinner in Paris on Thursday to discuss differences, potentially including a G7-format meeting on Greenland involving Ukraine, Denmark, Syria, and Russia on the sidelines.
The leak and tariff threat represent classic Trump-style diplomacy: blending personal grievance, economic coercion, and public shaming to pressure allies. Macron, who has taken a firm line against U.S. “strong-arming” on European sovereignty issues, has signalled France will not join the Board of Peace, viewing it as a potential undermining of UN-led efforts. A source close to Macron called the 200% tariff proposal “unacceptable,” framing it as retaliation for Paris’s independent stance.
This episode ties directly into Trump’s escalating Greenland campaign. He has repeatedly vowed there is “no going back” on securing “Complete and Total Control” of the Danish autonomous territory, citing national security needs against Russia and China. Over the weekend, he announced phased tariffs—starting at 10% on 1 February and rising to 25% by 1 June – on imports from eight European nations (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland) unless they relent on Greenland. The threats have rattled markets.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking in Davos on Tuesday, sought to downplay the drama. “It’s been 48 hours. Sit back, relax… I am confident that the leaders will not escalate and that this will work out in a very good place for all,” he said, brushing off what he termed “hysteria” over Greenland. Bessent emphasized de-escalation while keeping options open, framing the dispute as a test of the broader transatlantic relationship rather than a narrow Danish issue.
European responses have been defiant yet measured. EU leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have vowed an “unflinching” stance, with preparations underway for retaliatory measures under the bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument. This could target up to €93 billion ($109 billion) in U.S. imports, limiting access to public tenders, investments, banking, or services where the U.S. holds surpluses. France has pushed hardest for activation, seeing Trump’s tactics as coercive blackmail.
The Greenland push, coupled with Trump’s personal barbs at Macron, risks fracturing NATO unity at a time when the alliance faces other strains. Protests erupted in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, against U.S. demands, with demonstrators insisting on self-determination. In Zurich, anti-Trump rallies targeted the WEF itself. Even Russia weighed in, with its foreign minister questioning Denmark’s historical claim to Greenland.
With agencies.
Caption: Participants leave after a plenary session in the Congress Hall at the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, 20 January 2026. The meeting, under the topic ‘A Spirit of Dialogue,’ brings together entrepreneurs, scientists, and corporate and political leaders and runs from 19 to 23 January. EPA/LAURENT GILLIERON
Updated: January 20, 2026 - 14:02
