What we're covering
• Greenland messages exposed: US President Donald Trump shared private messages from leaders about Greenland ahead of his meetings at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. A message from French President Emmanuel Macron reads: “I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland.”
• Nobel spat: Trump said he “doesn’t care about” the Nobel Peace Prize, claiming it is “controlled by Norway.” His comment comes days after telling Norway’s leader he is focused on US priorities — including control of Greenland — over peace, after he wasn’t awarded the prize.
• Gaza “Board of Peace”: Trump also dismissed Macron’s decision not to join the “Board of Peace” aimed at rebuilding Gaza, saying “nobody wants him.” Russian President Vladimir Putin is among those invited to join the board.
Trump is taking aim at those challenging him on Greenland. Here's the latest
On the first anniversary of his second inauguration, President Donald Trump has reiterated his desire to take control of Greenland and taken aim at those challenging him ahead of his meetings with leaders at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos this week.
Trump posted a screenshot of a text message from French President Emmanuel Macron saying that he and Trump are aligned on issues including Syria and Iran, but “not on Greenland.”
He also claimed that he “doesn’t care” about the Nobel Peace Prize, claiming it is “controlled by Norway.” His comment comes days after telling Norway’s leader he is focused on US priorities — including control of Greenland — over peace, after he wasn’t awarded the prize.
Here’s what to know:
- Nobel spat: Trump claimed that Norway controls the Nobel Prize. He also praised Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who presented Trump with her Peace Prize at the White House last week. “First of all, a very fine woman felt that I deserved it and really wanted me to have the Nobel Prize. And I appreciate that,” he said.
- “Board of Peace” members: Trump dismissed Macron’s decision not to join the “Board of Peace” aimed at rebuilding Gaza, saying “nobody wants him.” Russian President Vladimir Putin is among those invited to join the board.
- Trump questions ownership: Trump said of Greenland: “I don’t think they’re going to push back too much. We have to have it.” He again questioned Denmark’s sovereignty over the island, claiming its leaders “don’t even go there.”
- Bessent expresses optimism: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he was confident that the US and European leaders would reach a solution regarding Greenland.
- Troops deployed to Greenland: Trump conceded in a weekend call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that he may have been given “bad information” on the announcement of troop deployments from European countries to Greenland, according to a senior UK official. Several European NATO countries announced they were deploying small numbers of military personnel to the island to participate in joint exercises with Denmark, drawing ire from Trump.
- Denmark warns of “red lines”: Lars Loekke Rasmussen said there are “red lines which can’t be crossed,” referencing Trump’s aspirations to acquire Greenland. But he added that he has no intention of escalating the situation.
- Greenland’s premier pushes back: “We don’t let ourselves be pressured. We stand firm on dialogue, on respect and on international law,” Jens-Frederik Nielsen said, referring to Trump’s ambitions to annex the island.
- European leaders’ strategy: A European Commission spokesperson said the priority among EU leaders is to “engage, not escalate, and avoid the imposition of tariffs.” But if tariffs are imposed, as Trump has threatened, the EU “has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond because we will do everything necessary to protect EU economic interests,” he said.
CNN’s Kevin Liptak, Auzinea Bacon, James Frater, Catherine Nicholls, Inke Kappeler, Rebekah Riess, Benjamin Brown, Amy Croffey, Billy Stockwell and Henrik Pettersson contributed to this report.
US treasury secretary says he's confident Greenland spat will be worked out with European leaders
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters he was confident that the US and European leaders would reach a solution regarding the tensions over control of Greenland.
“I am confident that the (European) leaders will not escalate and that this will work out in a manner that ends up in a very good place for all,” Bessent said Tuesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
US President Donald Trump, who posted a string of late-night messages on Truth Social demanding control over Greenland, will head to Davos on Tuesday.
Trump exposes private messages with leaders about Greenland ahead of Davos meetings
US President Donald Trump launched a late-night social media storm on Monday, sharing screenshots of messages from leaders about Greenland and forcefully reiterating his desire to control the island – just days before he’s expected to meet global counterparts at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos.
- France: Trump posted a screenshot of a text message from French President Emmanuel Macron, which a source close to him confirmed is authentic. “I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland,” Macron messaged, after saying that he and Trump were aligned on issues including Syria and Iran. Macron also offered to set up a meeting after Davos with G7 leaders and invited Trump to dinner in Paris.
- NATO: Trump also separately posted a screenshot of a message purportedly from the NATO secretary general, in which Mark Rutte lavishes praise on Trump and says he is “committed to finding a way forward on Greenland.” In an earlier post, Trump said he had a “very good telephone call” with Rutte about Greenland and agreed to meeting with “the various parties” at Davos. CNN cannot independently verify the message and has reached out to NATO for comment.
- United Kingdom: In another post, Trump slammed the UK’s move to transfer control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while maintaining control of the US-UK Diego Garcia military base, calling it “an act of GREAT STUPIDITY.” He linked the move to his Greenland aspirations, saying that the move was “another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired.”
The apparent breach of confidence comes ahead of Trump’s expected departure on Tuesday to Switzerland, where the growing rift over Greenland has already cast a long shadow.
On Monday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she had discussed the escalating America-Europe spat with a US Congress delegation in Davos, underlining the island’s and Denmark’s sovereignty.
Trump calls anti-ICE protesters who interrupted church service "agitators and insurrectionists"
President Donald Trump sharply condemned the anti‑ICE protest that disrupted a Sunday church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, describing the demonstrators as “agitators and insurrectionists” and accusing them of being “highly trained” to sow disorder.
“They are troublemakers who should be thrown in jail, or thrown out of the Country,” he went on to say.
The remarks come as the Justice Department investigates the church protest and considers potential charges under the FACE Act, a federal law that “prohibits the use or threat of force and physical obstruction that injures, intimidates, or interferes with a person seeking to … exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.”
The demonstrators said they were there to protest David Easterwood, who is listed as a pastor at the church and appears to be the same David Easterwood who is a top ICE official in the Twin Cities. He was recently named as a defendant in a case brought by protesters who allege immigration agents had violated their First and Fourth Amendment rights.
Trump posts screenshot of message from French president about Greenland
President Donald Trump has posted to Truth Social a screenshot of a message from French leader Emmanuel Macron questioning the US position on Greenland.
Alongside the caption “Note from President Emmanuel Macron, of France,” the screenshot reads, in part:
A source close to Macron has told CNN that the message is authentic.
Some context: In recent days, Macron has labeled Trump’s tariff threat over Greenland “unacceptable” and rebuffed Trump’s invitation to join the “Board of Peace” to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza. When asked about Macron rejecting the invite, Trump said: “Nobody wants him,” and raised the prospect of large tariffs on French wine.
This post has been updated with more information.
Source close to Macron says message shared by Trump is authentic
A text message shared by US President Donald Trump from French President Emmanuel Macron questioning his position on Greenland is authentic, a source close to Macron has told CNN.
Trump earlier posted a screenshot of the message on Truth Social.
The source told CNN said the private message is consistent with comments made by Macron in public.
In recent days, Macron has labeled Trump’s tariff threat over Greenland “unacceptable.” He also rebuffed Trump’s invitation to join the “Board of Peace” to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza. When asked about Macron rejecting the invite late Monday, Trump said: “Nobody wants him,” and raised the prospect of 200% tariffs on French wine and Champagne.
The source, close to the French president, told CNN Tuesday: “tariff threats to influence our foreign policy are unacceptable and ineffective.”
Trump posts screenshot of text purportedly from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte about Greenland
President Donald Trump has posted to Truth Social a screenshot of a message purportedly from Mark Rutte in which the NATO chief lavishes praise on Trump and says he is “committed to finding a way forward on Greenland.”
Hours earlier, Trump said in a separate post he had a “very good telephone call” with Rutte about Greenland and agreed to a meeting with “the various parties” at the Davos forum in Switzerland.
“Mr. President dear Donald - what you accomplished in Syria today is incredible,” the message reads.
The screenshot was posted alongside the caption “Thank you to Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO!”
CNN cannot independently verify the message and has reached out to the NATO Press Office for comment. Trump also posted a screenshot of a message from French President Emmanuel Macron, which a source close to Macron confirmed was authentic.
Rutte has been very complimentary of Trump in the past, praising the president for kick-starting talks on Russia and Ukraine in a December interview with CNN and last summer calling Trump’s attack on Iran’s nuclear program “extremely impressive.”
Trump slams "great stupidity" of UK move to transfer Chagos Islands to Mauritius
US President Donald Trump has slammed the United Kingdom’s recent move to transfer control of the strategically significant Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The UK confirmed its decision last May to return the islands to the African country, while maintaining control of the US-UK Diego Garcia military base.
At the time, Trump criticized the move, which gives control of the land surrounding a key US military location to a close trading partner of China.
He added that the UK’s decision was “an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired. Denmark and its European Allies have to DO THE RIGHT THING.”
For more context: Britain has controlled the region since 1814, and in 1965 it split the Chagos Islands from Mauritius before that former colony became independent. London kept control of the archipelago and renamed it the British Indian Ocean Territory.
It then evicted almost 2,000 residents to Mauritius and the Seychelles to create space for the Diego Garcia airbase. The secretive base is important to Washington’s interests, giving it a significant military presence in the Indian Ocean.
Trump said he had a “very good telephone call” with NATO’s secretary general about Greenland
President Donald Trump said he had a “very good telephone call” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte about Greenland and agreed to a meeting with “the various parties” in Davos – where Trump will join the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting this week.
“As I expressed to everyone, very plainly, Greenland is imperative for National and World Security,” he wrote in a Truth Social post early Tuesday.
Trump went on to say that the United States is the “most powerful country” in the world “by far.”
Trump says his second term as president has been “amazing" so far
President Donald Trump says the first year of his second term has been “amazing.”
“I don’t think any President has had a better first year than we’ve had in terms of success,” Trump told reporters Monday night – the eve of the one-year anniversary of his second inauguration.
Trump cited the administration’s crackdown on immigration as one of the year’s successes and claimed the economy is in great shape, saying “we have very little inflation,” even as affordability concerns weigh on many Americans.
“We have a great economy, and the prices are coming down still further,” he said. “But I inherited a mess, and now we have the hottest country anywhere in the world.”
Trump confirms Putin was invited to Gaza "Board of Peace"
President Donald Trump has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was invited to join Trump’s “Board of Peace.”
“He’s been invited,” Trump told reporters as he boarded Air Force One on Monday.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had previously said Putin had received the invitation “through diplomatic channels.”
Background: It is unclear how many invitations have been sent out. Information about which countries and global leaders have been asked to join has been coming from the individual states, rather than the White House.
"Nobody wants him," Trump says of Macron after he turned down Gaza board invitation
Donald Trump has dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision not to join the “Board of Peace” aimed at reconstructing Gaza, saying “nobody wants him.”
“Well nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon, so you know, that’s alright,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
“I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll join. But he doesn’t have to join,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
Trump reiterates US desire to take control over Greenland
When asked about pushback on his desire to take control of Greenland, President Donald Trump said, “I don’t think they’re going to push back too much. We have to have it.”
“They can’t protect it. Denmark, they’re wonderful people, and I know the leaders are very good people, but they don’t even go there,” Trump said, speaking to reporters in Miami on Monday night.
The comments echo remarks he made this month, saying “the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn’t mean that they own the land.”
More context: In 1721, a Lutheran missionary arrived in Greenland by boat, marking the start of Denmark’s colonization of the island, according to a Greenland government website.
Trump says he doesn’t “care about the Nobel Prize”
Speaking to reporters before departing Miami on Monday night, President Donald Trump said he doesn’t “care about the Nobel Prize.”
“First of all, a very fine woman felt that I deserved it and really wanted me to have the Nobel Prize. And I appreciate that,” he said, referring to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who presented Trump her Nobel Peace Prize while visiting the White House last week.
“If anybody thinks that Norway doesn’t, doesn’t control the Nobel Prize, they’re just kidding. They have a board, but it’s controlled by Norway, and I don’t care what Norway says, but I really don’t care about that. What I care about is saving lives.”
Why USA House's location on the Davos promenade is grabbing attention
Every year in Davos, Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum is being held, the brands on the promenade give a sense of who’s getting attention. This year, USA House has grabbed a prominent spot. CNN’s Richard Quest takes a look.
