“I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland.”
That’s what French President Emmanuel Macron told President Donald Trump, in a private message shared online by the American leader.
The message, posted overnight to Truth Social, was part of a flurry of activity as Trump insisted there was “no going back” in his campaign to seize the Arctic territory from Denmark. He also posted a text from the head of NATO, accused Britain of “stupidity,” and shared what appeared to be AI-generated images depicting the American flag over Greenland and Canada.
But Trump did add a glimmer of diplomacy, announcing he would meet with “various parties” about Greenland on the sidelines of this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Trump promised the event would be “very interesting,” telling reporters late Monday he did not expect his European allies to “push back too much” on his Greenland ambitions. In a brief telephone interview with NBC News earlier, Trump wouldn’t say whether he would use force to seize Greenland.
He was speaking after his own text was made public, in which he warned Europe that he no longer feels “the obligation to think purely of peace,” linking his hostile campaign to seize the island to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Hours later Trump was posting the texts from Macron, in which the French leader addressed him as “my friend.”
A source close to Macron told NBC News on Tuesday that the private messages shared by Trump were genuine. The source added that the French leader’s position was consistent in public and private, including on Greenland.
According to the screenshot shared by Trump, Macron said that he was “in line” with his American counterpart on Syria and Iran, but did not see his reasoning on Greenland. He also said that he could call a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders in Paris this week and offered to dine with Trump in the French capital.
Trump also shared texts from Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO, an alliance whose existence has been brought into question by Trump’s threats.
“I am committed to finding a way forward on Greenland,” Rutte wrote, calling Trump “Dear Donald,” appearing to compliment Trump’s actions on Syria, Gaza and Ukraine and promising to use his media engagements in Davos to highlight Trump’s work.
NATO’s press office told NBC News they would issue a comment if they had anything to say on the matter.
Trump said on Truth Social that he had a very good call with Rutte concerning Greenland and that he had agreed to the meeting in Davos. “There can be no going back — On that, everyone agrees!” he said.
Rutte’s appointment as NATO chief was viewed as part of a European effort to curry favor with Trump by taking a soft approach. But the president’s ratcheting threats to seize the island after his daring attack on Venezuela have led to growing questions about that strategy.
A crisis meeting of European leaders will be held Thursday as the continent weighs its response to Trump’s threat of tariffs against those opposing an American takeover of Greenland.
But Trump also leveled new attacks and threats late Monday.
He reversed his stance on the U.K.’s planned handover to Mauritius of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, home to a joint Anglo-American military base. He called it an act of “great stupidity” that underscored the need for America to seize Greenland.
A U.K. government spokesman defended the deal and said it secures the operations of the base.
Trump also suggested he could impose a 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes in an apparent effort to get Macron to join his “Board of Peace.”
Asked by a reporter about Macron seemingly not intending to join the board, Trump said, “Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon.”
He then leveled his tariff threat, and later posted the text messages.
A source close to Macron told NBC News that the Élysée had taken note of Trump’s statements, adding that tariff threats to influence French policy were unacceptable and ineffective.
The source also said that at this time Macron did not intend to give a favorable response to the “Board of Peace” invite, citing respect for the United Nations.
Still, some members of the Trump administration maintained America’s relations with Europe were strong.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged partners to “take a deep breath” and let tensions “play out.”
“I think our relations have never been closer,” he said, speaking on the sidelines in Davos.
Sean Nevin, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed.