Category: Foreign Policy

Trump Denies Nobel Prize Letter Despite Greenland

President Trump denied caring about the Nobel Peace Prize during a late-night gaggle with reporters Monday after attending the college football championship in Miami, despite having sent a letter to Norway’s Prime Minister explicitly linking his Greenland annexation threats to Norway’s failure to award him the prize. In the letter, Trump stated he no longer feels obligated to prioritize peace because Norway did not recognize him for allegedly stopping “8 Wars PLUS,” a claim unsupported by fact.

When confronted by a reporter about the letter’s direct connection between the Nobel Prize and his Greenland ambitions, Trump flatly denied the letter’s contents and his interest in the award. Trump claimed Norway controls the Nobel Prize committee and asserted he does not care about Norway’s opinion, while simultaneously defending his accomplishments and insisting he has saved “tens of millions of lives” by stopping multiple conflicts.

Trump’s denial contradicts the documented letter he sent to Norway, in which he explicitly conditioned his commitment to peace on receiving international recognition. Trump previously linked his Greenland acquisition push to Norway’s refusal to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, directly connecting territorial aggression to personal grievance over the award.

The contradiction between Trump’s written statements and his public denial demonstrates his pattern of disavowing documented communications when challenged by press. Trump has previously published private messages from foreign leaders on social media without authorization, establishing his willingness to weaponize diplomatic correspondence for personal or political purposes.

Trump’s false claim of stopping eight wars remains unsubstantiated, and the Nobel Prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, not controlled by the Norwegian government as Trump asserted. His late-night denial represents another instance of Trump contradicting his own documented actions when confronted by journalists.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-makes-stunning-denial-reporter-141659650.html)

Trump Posts Private Macron Message Threatening French

President Trump posted a private text message from French President Emmanuel Macron to Truth Social on Monday evening, revealing Macron’s explicit rejection of Trump’s Greenland annexation ambitions. The message, which Macron sent inviting Trump to dinner in Paris, stated “I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland” while offering cooperation on Syria, Iran, and a potential G7 meeting. Trump’s decision to publicly expose the private communication occurred just one hour after he threatened Macron with a 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes for declining an invitation to join Trump’s controversial “Board of Peace.”

Macron had formally rejected Trump’s Board of Peace invitation on Monday, asserting that the board’s charter “goes beyond the framework of Gaza and raises serious questions, in particular with respect to the principles and structure of the United Nations, which cannot be called into question.” Trump responded to reporters by dismissing Macron, claiming “nobody wants him because he’s gonna be out of office very soon” and threatening economic retaliation through punitive tariffs if Macron continued to resist his demands.

Trump’s breach of diplomatic confidentiality demonstrates his pattern of weaponizing personal communications for public humiliation. By posting Macron’s private message without consent, Trump violated established norms of executive-level diplomacy and transformed a confidential appeal for constructive engagement into a public spectacle on his Truth Social platform. The move reflects Trump’s documented hostility toward allied leaders who resist his territorial ambitions, as evidenced by his continued promotion of annexing Greenland, Canada, and Venezuela.

Macron’s message attempted diplomatic persuasion by emphasizing areas of agreement on Syria and Iran while directly confronting Trump’s Greenland agenda. However, Trump’s response—combining economic threats with public exposure of private communications—signals his abandonment of traditional diplomatic channels in favor of coercive tactics. The incident underscores the deteriorating state of U.S.-France relations under Trump’s leadership, characterized by contempt for allied leadership and disdain for confidentiality.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-posts-private-message-from-french-president-macron-to-truth-social-i-do-not-understand-what-you-are-doing/)

Trump Posts AI Map Adding Greenland Canada Venezuela to US

President Trump posted an AI-edited image on Truth Social depicting a map of North America that incorporates Greenland, Canada, and Venezuela as U.S. territory, taken during a meeting with European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in August 2025. The image reinforces Trump’s stated intent to annex these territories, which he has publicly pursued since returning to office in January 2025.

Trump has repeatedly demanded U.S. acquisition of Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, citing national security concerns regarding Russian and Chinese threats to the Arctic. He has threatened escalating tariffs on eight European nations—10 percent starting February 1, rising to 25 percent on June 1—unless Denmark agrees to what he calls a “Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.” Trump has declined to rule out military force to achieve this objective and has threatened additional tariffs on European allies resistant to the annexation plan.

Trump has directed military planners to develop invasion contingencies for Greenland, following the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The timing reflects Trump’s broader pattern of territorial expansion rhetoric, which now extends to claims that the United States should absorb Canada as a 51st state and control Venezuela.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen publicly rejected the annexation proposal, stating “Greenland does not want to be governed from the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States.” Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Canada have deployed military personnel to Greenland in response to Trump’s annexation threats, with multiple European nations issuing joint statements affirming solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.

The European Union has convened emergency ambassadorial meetings to discuss retaliatory trade measures against U.S. tariffs, signaling deepening transatlantic fracture over Trump’s unilateral territorial ambitions and coercive economic threats directed at NATO allies.

(Source: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-shares-map-of-us-including-greenland-canada-venezuela-11384438)

A dozen right-wing influencers posted identical messages to give Trump congressional powers

A dozen right-wing influencers posted nearly identical and frequently false attacks against semiconductor export legislation over a 27-hour period on Thursday, according to reporting by The Midas Project on X. The coordinated campaign targeted a bill most social media users had not previously encountered, suggesting organized messaging rather than organic political discussion.

The synchronized nature of the posts—featuring similar language and timing across multiple accounts—indicates coordinated amplification of a specific policy attack. The Trump administration has invested over $10 billion in taxpayer funds to acquire minority ownership stakes in semiconductor companies, creating potential financial incentives for selective messaging on chip-related legislation.

The inaccuracies in the influencers' posts underscore the deliberate nature of the campaign, as fact-checking would have readily corrected the false claims being distributed. The bill itself remains largely unknown to the general public, yet received concentrated negative attention from this coordinated network.

This episode demonstrates how right-wing media figures can rapidly amplify messaging on specific policy issues through synchronized social media campaigns, regardless of factual accuracy. Trump has previously announced a 100% tariff on imported computer chips, linking his administration directly to semiconductor policy outcomes and potential financial interests.

(Source: https://x.com/TheMidasProj/status/2012589823014371357)

Germany, Other NATO Allies Sending Troops to Greenland Amid Trump Threats

Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Canada are deploying military personnel to Greenland in response to Trump’s repeated threats to annex the Danish territory. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced that Swedish Armed Forces officers arrived Wednesday as part of a multinational operation at Denmark’s request, framed as strengthening regional security under Operation Arctic Endurance. Germany confirmed deployment of over a dozen reconnaissance troops on Thursday, while France has also engaged diplomatically though without formal announcement.

Trump declared on Truth Social that U.S. control of Greenland is “vital” for national security and the “Golden Dome” missile defense system, stating “Anything less than that is unacceptable.” He has repeatedly threatened military action, saying he will acquire Greenland the “easy way” or “hard way” regardless of consent, and warned that U.S. military planners have prepared invasion scenarios for the NATO ally territory.

Greenland, a self-governing territory within Denmark’s kingdom since 1979, maintains Danish authority over foreign policy and defense. Both Danish and Greenlandic leaders have categorically rejected U.S. sovereignty claims, with Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stating at a press conference: “If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark.” The Danish government reaffirmed that “Greenland’s future is for Greenlanders alone to decide.”

NATO allies are framing the troop deployments as political solidarity with Denmark and Arctic security strengthening, directly contradicting Trump’s annexation demands. The Danish government stated the increased military presence aims to “train the ability to operate in Arctic conditions and strengthen the Alliance’s footprint” for European and transatlantic security. European leaders view the coordinated deployments as demonstrating NATO unity against Trump’s unilateral pressure.

The escalating conflict exposes fundamental divisions between Washington and European capitals over the legitimacy of U.S. global ambitions and threatens NATO cohesion. Trump’s assertion that he is constrained only by his “own morality” and not international law underscores the severity of the geopolitical rupture as diplomatic tensions continue ahead of scheduled U.S.-Danish meetings on Arctic security.

(Source: https://www.newsweek.com/greenland-germany-sending-troops-nato-donald-trump-threats-11361535)

Trump Links His Push for Greenland to Not Winning Nobel Peace Prize – The New York Times

President Trump sent a text message to Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Sunday, stating that he is pursuing Greenland acquisition partly because Norway did not award him a Nobel Peace Prize. In the message, Trump claimed he had “stopped 8 Wars PLUS” and said that failing to receive the prize means he no longer feels obligated to prioritize peace, instead focusing on “what is good and proper for the United States of America.” Trump also disputed Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland, asserting “There are no written documents” supporting Danish claims and demanding “Complete and Total Control of Greenland” for global security.

The text message escalates Trump’s campaign to seize Greenland, an Arctic territory that has been part of the Danish Kingdom for over 300 years. Trump’s claim that lack of a Nobel Prize justifies shifting away from peace-focused policy to territorial acquisition contradicts his stated commitment to peaceful resolution. Trump has previously threatened to acquire Greenland through either an “easy way” or “hard way,” rejecting questions about financial incentives or local consent.

Trump has directed military planners to prepare an invasion plan for Greenland, with advisers accelerating efforts following operations against Venezuela. Trump has declared his commander-in-chief powers are constrained only by his “own morality,” rejecting international law as binding on military action.

World leaders have condemned Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, viewing it as a violation of international law and Danish sovereignty. The message to Norway’s prime minister reveals Trump’s willingness to weaponize personal grievances—in this case, not receiving an international peace prize—to justify geopolitical aggression and abandonment of stated principles.

(Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/world/europe/trump-norway-greenland-nobel.html)

Trump DOJ Memo Claims President Above International Law

A classified 20-30 page Justice Department legal opinion presented to Congress on Tuesday argues that President Trump faced no constitutional or international legal constraints when he ordered the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The Office of Legal Counsel memo asserts Trump’s authority as commander-in-chief under Article II of the Constitution permitted the operation, codenamed Absolute Resolve, without prior congressional approval.

The opinion builds directly on a 1989 legal memo authored by William Barr, Trump’s current Attorney General, which claimed presidents possess “inherent constitutional authority” to order law enforcement operations in foreign countries even when doing so violates international law. The new memo treats that premise as settled and argues the Maduro operation did not constitute war in the constitutional sense, therefore bypassing the War Powers Act requirement for congressional authorization. An unclassified version released simultaneously states that international law “does not restrict the president as a matter of domestic law” regarding rendition operations.

The memo conceded that Trump personally justified the operation by stating control of Venezuelan oil reserves was the objective, though the administration maintains it was solely a law enforcement action targeting Maduro as the leader of a narco-trafficking organization. A White House official stated the operation was lawful and that “the Department of Justice routinely executes federal arrest warrants abroad,” framing the military-backed seizure as standard law enforcement practice.

Democratic lawmakers directly contradicted this characterization, arguing that removing a foreign head of state by military force constitutes an act of war regardless of law enforcement justifications. The administration has also used success in the Maduro operation to embolden plans for military actions against other targets, with officials accelerating preparations that extend beyond Venezuela.

The memo stipulated that any military support must remain proportional to the law enforcement objective and acknowledged that military commanders had not assessed Maduro’s actions as a direct or imminent threat to U.S. forces. Nevertheless, the opinion concluded the likelihood of armed resistance justified deploying U.S. military assets. The opinion was provided to lawmakers after the operation had already been executed, establishing legal justification retroactively rather than constraining executive action beforehand.

(Source: https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/politics/memo-maduro-capture-olc)

Trump Imposes 25% Tariff on Iran Trading Nations

President Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all nations conducting business with Iran, declaring the measure “final and conclusive” via Truth Social without providing legal justification or implementation details. The White House offered no official documentation of the policy, declined to clarify its legal authority, and did not respond to requests for comment regarding scope or enforcement mechanisms.

Iran’s major trading partners—including China, Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and India—would face the tariffs under Trump’s declaration. China’s embassy immediately rejected the measure, stating it opposes “indiscriminate imposition of tariffs” and warning it would take “all necessary measures” to protect its interests, noting that “tariff wars and trade wars have no winners.”

The announcement coincides with Iran’s largest anti-government demonstrations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, driven by economic collapse and calls for systemic change. The U.S.-based rights group HRANA documented 599 deaths—510 protesters and 89 security personnel—since protests began on December 28, with Iran experiencing its gravest challenge to clerical rule in decades.

Trump has threatened military action against Iran while claiming to maintain diplomatic channels with opposition figures and Tehran’s leadership. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated diplomacy remains “the first option,” though Trump authorized U.S. military airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June and supported Israeli military strikes on Iran in 2025.

Trump’s tariff authority faces legal scrutiny as the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether to overturn broad sections of his existing tariffs. Iran exported goods to 147 trading partners in 2022 according to World Bank data, suggesting the tariff threat would disrupt extensive global commerce networks.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-tariffs-china-trade-b2899268.html)

Donald Trump Orders Army Chiefs to Draw Up Plan to Invade NATO Ally Greenland

President Trump has directed the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to prepare an invasion plan for Greenland, according to sources cited by the Mail on Sunday. Political adviser Stephen Miller and other administration hawks have accelerated this effort following the operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, viewing the window of opportunity as closing before mid-term elections later in 2026.

Senior military officials, including the joint chiefs of staff, are resisting the directive on grounds that an invasion would be illegal and lack Congressional support. Military sources describe Trump’s demands as unrealistic, with one comparing the situation to “dealing with a five-year-old.” The generals have attempted deflection by proposing alternative military operations, such as intercepting Russian “ghost” ships or launching strikes on Iran.

British diplomats have war-gamed scenarios involving Trump using force or political coercion to sever Greenland’s ties to Denmark, including a “worst-case scenario” described as leading to “the destruction of NATO from the inside.” Diplomatic cables indicate that Trump could advance from escalatory demands to a “compromise scenario” in which Denmark grants full military access to Greenland and denies it to Russia and China, with a NATO summit in July identified as potential timing for such a deal.

Trump previously declared he would acquire Greenland “easy way” or “hard way” regardless of local consent or Danish sovereignty. The administration has also discussed direct cash payments to Greenland’s 57,000 residents, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person, as a strategy to encourage secession from Denmark.

Diplomatic sources suspect that dismantling NATO may be Trump’s actual objective, with one cable stating: “If Trump wants to end NATO, this might be the most convenient way to do it.” European officials fear Trump will act before the summer mid-term window closes, making early 2026 the likely timeframe for escalatory moves. The UK’s alignment with European allies or breakaway support for Trump’s approach will be critical to the outcome.

(Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15452323/Donald-Trump-orders-army-chiefs-plan-invade-Greenland-President.html)

France changes its G7 schedule because Trump is busy with White House UFC fight on his birthday: report

French officials rescheduled the Group of 7 summit from June 14-16 to June 15-17 after Trump announced plans to host a UFC fight at the White House on June 14, his 80th birthday. A White House official stated the summit was moved to “accommodate” Trump’s schedule, claiming international partners “kindly shifted dates” because Trump’s attendance was “essential.” France’s government declined to explicitly confirm the UFC event prompted the change, attributing the rescheduling to “consultations with G7 partners.”

Trump announced the White House UFC event during an October rally in Norfolk, Virginia, stating he would host a “big UFC fight” on the White House grounds on June 14. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed logistical planning is underway and disclosed the event will accommodate approximately 5,000 spectators on the White House lawn, with large screens, a stage, and music scheduled throughout the day. White indicated that fighters will walk directly from the Oval Office to the venue.

Trump is a documented UFC enthusiast who has attended multiple fights, including one in November 2024 with his son and Elon Musk. The scheduling change demonstrates how Trump’s personal entertainment commitments now direct diplomatic calendars, with world leaders accommodating his birthday event over established international protocols.

Trump attended the previous G7 summit in Canada but departed early, citing Middle East tensions. His prioritization of a UFC event over the standard G7 schedule reflects his pattern of treating official duties as secondary to personal interests and entertainment.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/france-changes-g7-schedule-because-003823827.html)

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