Private Texts, Public Threats: Trump Targets Macron With Wine Tariff Ultimatum

The move comes amid a broader clash over Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, which has rattled Europe and triggered emergency EU talks. Macron has taken one of the hardest lines against Trump’s Greenland ambitions, urging the bloc to activate its strongest trade tools and even sending French troops to Greenland in solidarity with Denmark.

Trump, angered by France’s refusal to join his proposed “Board of Peace,” lashed out by sharing a screenshot of texts in which Macron questioned U.S. policy on Greenland but offered cooperation on Syria and Iran. French officials confirmed the exchange was authentic but criticized Trump’s decision to make private diplomacy public.

EU leaders are now weighing a €93 billion tariff retaliation against Washington, underscoring how the Greenland dispute has spiraled into a transatlantic trade war. Analysts warn the confrontation could destabilize NATO and fracture Western unity at a critical moment.