Former US President Donald Trump has dramatically escalated a potential trade war with Europe, threatening to impose a staggering 200 percent tariff on French champagne and wine. The outburst came on Monday night following a public rejection from French President Emmanuel Macron.
A Public Spat Over Peace Plans
The incident occurred after the college football championship in Miami, where Trump was asked about Macron declining an invitation to join his proposed 'Board of Peace'. This board is intended to oversee the second phase of a Gaza peace plan. Macron stated he was 'at this stage' not planning to serve on Trump's group.
Trump responded dismissively, claiming, 'Well, nobody wants him because he's going to be out of office very soon.' He then turned to economic threats, stating, 'What I'll do is, if they feel hostile, I'll put a 200 percent tariff on his wines and champagnes and he'll join. But he doesn't have to join.'
This is not the first time Trump has threatened European nations with tariffs; he has previously targeted France and others for opposing his actions regarding Greenland.
Text Messages and Conflicting Agendas
Later on Monday night, Trump revealed a private text message exchange with President Macron. In the message, the French leader sought common ground while expressing confusion over Trump's Greenland ambitions.
'My friend, we are totally in line on Syria. We can do great things on Iran,' Macron wrote. He added, 'I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland. Let us try to build great things.'
Macron proposed assembling a G7 meeting after the World Economic Forum in Davos and invited Trump to dinner in Paris on Thursday before his return to the US.
Global Reactions and Board of Peace Invitations
Meanwhile, Trump's 'Board of Peace' initiative continues to generate mixed international reactions. The board, which Trump formally established last week as part of his plan to end the Israel-Hamas war, will oversee Gaza's governance with the former president as chairman.
As of Monday morning, only three countries had accepted the invitation: Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Vietnam. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his country would join but refused to pay the reported $1 billion fee for a permanent seat, a demand that has shocked European leaders.
Invitations have been sent to a wide and sometimes conflicting array of nations, including:
- Israel, Russia, Belarus, Slovenia, and Thailand
- The European Union's executive arm
- Egypt, India, Turkey, Canada, and the United Kingdom
The Kremlin confirmed Vladimir Putin received the offer and is 'studying all the details'. The board's executive committee is set to include former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and other allies.
The initiative's vague mandate and decision-making process, alongside its potential to rival the United Nations Security Council, have raised significant questions. European leaders appear hesitant to offer public support, fearing it could undermine existing global institutions.
The US is expected to announce the official list of members in the coming days, likely during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
