French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday sharply responded to US President Donald Trump after the latter posted a screenshot of their private conversation on social media. Macron said he “stands by his words” and made it clear that Europe would not give in to bullying or intimidation — a remark seen as a reference to Trump’s repeated demands that the US should absorb Greenland.
Addressing questions about the leak, Macron said he fully accepted responsibility for what he says and does. “I take responsibility for everything I do. I try to remain consistent between what I say publicly and what I say privately,” he stated.
Macron also ruled out the possibility of meeting Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, noting that he would have departed before the US president’s arrival. He dismissed reports of a G7 summit being scheduled this week, telling AFP in Davos, “No meeting is planned. The French presidency is ready to organise one.”
While several European leaders have chosen a more cautious tone to avoid deepening tensions with Washington, Macron adopted a markedly tougher stance. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, he warned that France and Europe would not “passively accept the law of the strongest,” arguing that doing so would amount to “vassalisation.” He stressed that Europe would continue to defend territorial sovereignty and the rule of law, even as the global order increasingly drifts toward what he described as a “rules-free world.”
Macron added that the European Union could respond with strong trade measures if necessary. “We prefer respect to bullies. And we prefer the rule of law to brutality,” he said.
His remarks follow Trump’s recent threats to impose steep tariffs on French wine and champagne, as well as the unprecedented move of publishing private messages exchanged with Macron. A day earlier, Trump had also launched a personal attack on Truth Social, claiming Macron “will be out of office soon,” after the French leader declined to join Trump’s proposed “board of peace.”
