Donald Trump leaks private texts with President Macron amid tensions with Europe
Emmanuel Macron is facing interrogation today after Donald Trump exposed a number of controversial texts he'd received from the French president - including one about the prospect of war in Iran.
The messages were supposedly sent in light of France - among a number of other Europeans nations - being hit with extreme new tariffs by Trump over the weekend after they jointly condemned his plans to 'takeover' Greenland.
Several NATO allies have voiced their opposition of the US leader's mission since he first declared intentions of attaining the self-governing territory last year, claiming America 'needs' Greenland for 'national security' purposes.
After refusing to rule out using military intervention to take the land, the 79-year-old's administration even claimed recently it was 'actively' discussing a potential offer to buy the Arctic space.
Advert
Both the leaders of Greenland and Denmark - the latter of whom technically owns the land - have slammed Trump's plans as 'fantasy', insisting Greenland is not up for sale.
Several other nations insisted in a new statement they are 'ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind'.
Their message, also issued on Saturday, added: "We are committed to strengthening Arctic security as shared transatlantic interest. The pre-coordinated Danish exercise 'Arctic Endurace' conducted with Allies, responds to this necessity. It poses no threat to anyone."
Despite France having been included in the list of authors, Trump has since leaked a series of texts sent by French leader Macron, in which the European proposes setting up a private meeting.
The bombshell text - uploaded to Truth Social by the President - alleges that Macron began: "My friend, we are totally in line on Syria. We can do great things in Iran."
Though he went on to claim he does 'not understand' what the President is 'doing on Greenland', he suggested: "Let us try to build great things."
Penning a numerical list, Macron offers to 'set up a G7 meeting after Davos in Paris on Thursday', claiming: "I can invite the Ukrainians, the Danish, the Syrians and the Russians in the margins."
The latter invitation is significant, being that Russia's attendance would have marked the first time the country had been included in a G7-format meeting since it was expelled from the former G8 in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea.
Back in December, Macron declared that Europe must re-engage in talks with Vladimir Putin if a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is ever to be found. Weeks later, he claimed France was now providing two-thirds of intel to Ukraine, largely replacing America.
With regards to Thursday's plans, 48-year-old Macron is set to attend the World Economic Forum for an annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland this morning (20 Jan), before returning to Paris the same day.
According to Reuters, his aides previously claimed he had no plans to stay in the Swiss city until Wednesday, when Trump will arrive.
Further, a number of European leaders will meet up in Brussels on Thursday for an emergency summit set to address the staggering sanctions Trump threatened to impose on Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and the UK from 1 February.
The right-wing leader ruled over the weekend that these countries would be slapped with 'a 10 percent tariff on any and all goods', adding that this would increase to 25 percent from 1 June 'until such a time as a Deal is reached'.
When it comes to France specifically, the American vowed to impose a 200 percent tax on French wines and champagnes, which he claimed he hoped would push Macron to join Trump's Board of Peace initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts.
A source close to the French leader initially hit out in response: "Tariff threats to influence our foreign policy are unacceptable and ineffective."
The second offer issued to Trump by Macron in the leaked texts this week, however, was 'a dinner together in Paris together on Thursday' before Trump 'goes back to the US'.
The message - which the Frenchman's team have since confirmed are entirely authentic - were signed off, 'Emmanuel'.
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, World News, UK News, Emmanuel Macron
Rhianna Benson