President Trump’s public pressure strategy on Greenland
By Easton Martin | January 20, 2026
President Donald Trump has escalated his diplomatic standoff with Europe over the acquisition of Greenland by publicly releasing correspondence from French President Emmanuel Macron.
On Tuesday, Trump shared a screenshot on Truth Social of a text message in which Macron attempted to bridge the divide between Washington and Paris.
In the message, Macron addressed Trump as “My friend” and emphasized alignment on Syria and Iran but bluntly stated, “I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland.” The French leader proposed a dinner in Paris to discuss their differences before Trump returns to the United States.
The message comes amid rising tensions as the White House threatens punitive 10% tariffs on European allies if a deal for the Arctic territory is not reached by February.
This move follows a similar leak involving the Norwegian Prime Minister, where Trump linked his territorial ambitions to a Nobel Peace Prize snub.
The President’s actions suggest a strategy of aggressive public pressure intended to fracture European unity regarding the sovereignty of the Danish territory
