U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron meet during the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 23, 2025.
Alexander Drago | Reuters
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to impose 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne after French President Emmanuel Macron was reported to be reluctant to join a “peace committee” in the Gaza Strip.
When asked by reporters in Miami to respond to Macron’s stance, Trump denied the French leader’s influence and said he would use trade sanctions as leverage.
“Well, no one wants him because he’s going to be out of office soon,” President Trump said. “So, that’s fine. If they feel hostile, I’ll put a 200 percent tariff on his wine and champagne. And he’ll participate. But he doesn’t have to participate.”
Macron’s five-year presidential term is due to end in May 2027, and under French law he cannot be re-elected for a third term.
The Peace Commission is a global body approved by the UN Security Council last November and established to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Invitations to the board have been extended to various world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
President Trump also reiterated his plan to take control of Greenland and downplayed the possibility of resistance from Europe.
“I don’t think they’ll be overly repulsed,” he said. “We have to have it… They can’t keep it.”
President Trump referred to Denmark’s historic claim to Greenland, saying Danish leaders are “very good people” but argued that centuries of existence does not confer ownership.
“[Just]because a ship went there 500 years ago and left doesn’t give you ownership of the property.” It was not clear what kind of “ship” Trump was referring to.
Denmark has had a colony in Greenland since 1721, and Greenland became part of Denmark in 1953. In 2009, Denmark granted Greenland autonomy, giving it control over all matters except foreign policy and defence.
President Trump on Friday claimed that Greenland was needed for “world security” and threatened to take control of it “whether they[European lawmakers]like it or not.”
On Saturday, he threatened to impose tariffs of up to 25% on eight European countries, including Britain, until the United States takes control of Greenland.
Although President Trump has not ruled out using military force to seize territory, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly said on January 6 that President Trump wants to purchase Greenland.
In response, European countries are considering retaliatory tariffs and broader punitive economic countermeasures against the United States.
