Trump publishes private message from Rutte as Greenland row escalates

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told U.S. President Donald Trump he was “committed to finding a way forward on Greenland” after what Trump called a “very good” phone call, according to private messages the U.S. president shared publicly.

The message from Rutte, posted by Trump on Truth Social, read:

“Mr. President, dear Donald - what you accomplished in Syria today is incredible. I will use my media engagements in Davos to highlight your work there, in Gaza, and in Ukraine. I am committed to finding a way forward on Greenland. Can't wait to see you. Yours, Mark.”

Trump also published screenshots of messages from French President Emmanuel Macron, revealing behind-the-scenes diplomacy as tensions rise between Washington and European allies, British media reports.

In the message, Macron questioned Trump’s Greenland push while proposing further talks, writing:

“My friend, we are totally in line on Syria. We can do great things on Iran. I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland.”

Macron added: “let us try to build great things: 1) I can set up a g7 meeting after Davos in Paris on thursday afternoon… 2) let us have a dinner together in Paris together on thursday before you go back to the us. Emmanuel.” Trump did not disclose whether he responded, and the White House declined to comment.

Alongside the messages, Trump shared an AI-generated image depicting him speaking with European leaders in the White House, with an American flag superimposed over Greenland. He said he had also agreed to meetings with unspecified parties at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The disclosures come as Trump intensifies pressure on Denmark and other European states, linking his drive to secure control of Greenland to broader trade and security disputes. He has threatened sweeping tariffs on several European countries if a deal is not reached and declined to rule out the use of force, telling NBC News he would not say whether military action was an option.

In a separate text to Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, later released by Oslo, Trump wrote:

“Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.”

European leaders have pushed back, warning the dispute risks destabilising NATO and reigniting a trade war.

“We are living in 2026, you can trade with people, but you don't trade people,” Denmark’s foreign minister said, as EU officials weighed retaliatory measures and called for dialogue grounded in international law.

By Aghakazim Guliyev