French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday delivered a forceful rebuke of U.S. President Donald Trump, declaring that Europe would not give in to intimidation or “the law of the strongest” amid escalating tensions over Greenland and threatened U.S. tariffs. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Macron’s remarks marked one of the sharpest European responses yet to Trump’s warnings that he would impose sweeping trade penalties unless the United States is allowed to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
While several European leaders have sought to keep a measured tone to avoid inflaming a trans-Atlantic dispute, Macron chose a confrontational approach. According to Reuters, he warned that passively accepting such pressure would lead to Europe’s “vassalization,” arguing that territorial sovereignty and the rule of law must be defended even as the global order shifts toward what he described as a world with fewer rules.
Macron said Europe preferred respect over bullying and legality over brute force, language that underscored the depth of frustration in Paris and other European capitals. His speech followed Trump’s recent threats of steep tariffs on French wine and champagne, as well as Trump’s decision to publish private messages exchanged with Macron, an unusual breach of diplomatic convention that further strained relations.
The French leader said Washington’s “endless accumulation” of new tariffs was fundamentally unacceptable, particularly when used as leverage over sovereignty issues. He added that Europe had the means to respond, including the possible reactivation of tariffs on 93 billion euros worth of U.S. goods that were suspended last year after a temporary trade deal was reached. Those measures could snap back into place as early as February.
Beyond tariffs, Macron has urged the European Union to consider deploying its Anti-Coercion Instrument, a powerful trade tool informally known as the “trade bazooka.” This mechanism could restrict U.S. access to public procurement or limit trade in services such as technology platforms. Macron said it was “crazy” that relations had deteriorated to the point where such options were being openly discussed.
The dispute has prompted EU leaders to convene an emergency summit in Brussels later this week to address the Greenland issue and the broader fallout from Trump’s threats. The U.S. president’s push to wrest control of the Arctic island from Denmark, a fellow NATO member, has rattled European industries and sent shockwaves through financial markets, further souring Washington’s relationship with Europe as a whole.
Tensions have also been fueled by Trump’s irritation over France’s reluctance to join a proposed Board of Peace, a new international body Trump has suggested he would lead. Paris has raised concerns that such an initiative could undermine the role of the United Nations. When asked about Macron’s resistance, Trump responded by threatening a 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes, saying Macron would eventually fall in line.
According to Reuters, Trump later published a screenshot on his Truth Social platform of a private exchange with Macron in which the French president questioned Trump’s intentions regarding Greenland and suggested hosting a G7 meeting that would include Russia and other actors. A source close to Macron confirmed the authenticity of the messages, though neither side disclosed when they were sent.
Macron confirmed he would not extend his stay in Davos to meet Trump, who was due to arrive the following day, saying his schedule had long been set. French officials have defended Macron’s direct engagement with Trump over the years, noting that their relationship has oscillated between cordiality and confrontation since Trump’s first term. Allies of Macron say his outspoken stance has made him a particular target for Trump precisely because he is pushing back.
“By leading the resistance, France becomes a target,” ruling-party lawmaker Pieyre-Alexandre Langlade told Reuters, reflecting a growing view in Paris that standing up for democratic principles now carries a political and economic cost in dealing with Washington.
