Trump Releases Private Messages From Macron and NATO Chief as Greenland Debate Intensifies

President Donald J. Trump, the current President of the United States, publicly released private text messages from French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, shedding new light on behind-the-scenes diplomatic reactions to his push for U.S. control of Greenland.

The messages, which Trump posted over the weekend, come as the administration renews its effort to acquire Greenland from Denmark — a move the president has framed as a strategic necessity tied to U.S. national security. Trump has repeatedly argued that the Arctic territory is critical to countering growing Russian and Chinese influence in the region and plays a central role in his vision for a “Golden Dome” anti-ballistic missile defense system to safeguard the homeland.

On Sunday, Trump shared a message he received from Macron that reflected alignment on several global issues while expressing confusion over Greenland. Macron wrote, “My friend, We are totally in line on Syria[.] We can do great things on Iran[.] I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland[.]”

The French president then proposed a flurry of diplomatic engagements, adding, “Let us try to build great things: 1) i [sic] can set up a g7 meeting after Davos in Paris on thursday afternoon. I can invite the ukrainians, the danish, the syrians and the russians in the margins 2) let us have a dinner together in Paris together on thursday before you go back to the us.”

Trump also released a text from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who praised the president’s recent foreign policy actions and signaled openness to discussions surrounding Greenland. Rutte wrote, “Mr. President, dear Donald — what you accomplished in Syria today is incredible. I will use my media engagements in Davos to highlight your work there, in Gaza, and in Ukraine. I am committed to finding a way forward on Greenland. Can’t wait to see you.”

The disclosures follow a similar revelation last week, when Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre published a private message Trump sent him regarding Greenland. In that exchange, Trump reportedly questioned Denmark’s ability to defend the territory and challenged the legitimacy of Europe’s long-standing claims, pointing to historical explorers as a flimsy basis for sovereignty.

Asked by the New York Post why he chose to make the private exchanges public, Trump said the messages underscored his broader point about European leaders’ posture once economic pressure was applied.

“It just made my point. They’re saying, ‘Oh gee, let’s have dinner, let’s do this, let’s do that.’ It just made my point,’ Trump said of the leaders’ private deference after he threatened 10 percent tariffs, effective Feb. 1, on eight European nations opposed to his bid to acquire Greenland, according to the outlet.

Trump further escalated the issue by announcing new tariffs via Truth Social on Sunday. The president said the U.S. would impose a 10 percent tariff — increasing to 25 percent on June 1 — on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland after those countries sent troops to Greenland.

“This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland. The United States has been trying to do this transaction for over 150 years. Many Presidents have tried, and for good reason, but Denmark has always refused,” Trump wrote.

Addressing references in the texts to Syria, Trump highlighted what he described as a decisive intervention that prevented a major security failure involving European extremists.

“Oh, we did a good job with Syria. They had a prison break. European prisoners were breaking, and I got it stopped. That was yesterday,” Trump said, according to the Post.

He added, “European terrorists were in prison. They had a prison break. And working with the government of Syria and the new leader of Syria, they captured all the prisoners, put them back to jail, and these were the worst terrorists in the world, all from Europe.”

As he prepared to travel to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump was asked Monday how he planned to respond to European leaders who oppose his Greenland proposal.

“Well, I don’t think they are going to push back too much. Look, we have to have it,” the president said.

“They have to have this done,” Trump continued. **“They can’t protect it. Denmark, they’re wonderful people, and I know the leaders are very good people, but they don’t even go there.”**

Trump emphasized that the United States’ leadership within NATO has strengthened significantly under his administration, noting his role in pushing alliance members to dramatically increase defense spending.

The president said he successfully pressured NATO countries to commit 5 percent of their Gross Domestic Product to defense — far above the previous 2 percent benchmark that many member nations had failed to meet for years.