U.S. President Donald Trump meets with French President Emmanuel Macron during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, in New York City, New York, U.S., Sept. 23, 2025. <\/p>\n
Alexander Drago | Reuters<\/p>\n
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to impose 200% tariffs on French wines and champagne after French President Emmanuel Macron was reported<\/a> to be unwilling to join his “Board of Peace” on Gaza.<\/p>\n When asked for a response by a reporter in Miami about Macron’s stance, Trump dismissed the French leader’s influence and said he would use trade penalties as leverage.<\/p>\n “Well, nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon,” Trump said. “So you know, that’s all right. What I’ll do is, if they feel like [being] hostile, I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll join. But he doesn’t have to join.”<\/p>\n Macron’s five-year presidential term is due to end in May 2027, and under French law, he cannot run again for a third term.<\/p>\n The Board of Peace is a global body endorsed by the United Nations Security Council in November last year, established to oversee the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.<\/p>\n Invites to various world leaders to be on the board have been sent, including to Russian President\u00a0Vladimir Putin, UK Prime Minister\u00a0Keir Starmer and Indian Prime Minister\u00a0Narendra Modi. <\/p>\n Trump also reiterated his plans to control Greenland, downplaying the likelihood of resistance from Europe.<\/p>\n “I don’t think they’re going to push back too much,” he said. “We have to have it …They can’t protect it.”<\/p>\n Referring to Denmark’s historical claims over Greenland, Trump said the Danish leaders were “very good people,” but argued that a centuries-old presence did not confer ownership.<\/p>\n “[Just] because the boat went there 500 years ago and then left, that doesn’t give you title to property.” It was not clear what “boat” Trump was referring to. <\/p>\n Denmark has held colonies<\/a> in Greenland since 1721, and the island was made part of Denmark in 1953. In 2009, Denmark granted Greenland self-government, giving the territory control over all its affairs except foreign policy and defence.<\/p>\n Trump on Friday threatened to take control of Greenland “whether they [European lawmakers] like it or not,<\/a>” claiming that it was needed for “world security.”<\/p>\n On Saturday, he also warned that the U.S. would impose tariffs<\/a> of up to 25% on eight European countries, including the UK, until the U.S. controls Greenland. <\/p>\n Trump has not ruled out the use of military force to seize the territory, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly said on Jan. 6 that Trump would prefer to buy Greenland.<\/a><\/p>\n