Emmanuel Macron has pushed back against Donald Trump, cautioning about the emergence of a “world without rules” where “international law is disregarded, and might prevails.”
The French President’s remarks at the World Economic Forum follow Trump’s revelations of exchanges that highlighted Macron’s puzzlement over his Greenland ambitions and his suggestion to host a G7 summit in Paris, inviting Russian participation.
Wearing aviator sunglasses due to an eye condition, Macron addressed Davos attendees, emphasizing a shift towards lawlessness dominated by the powerful, while warning of the reemergence of what he termed “imperial ambitions.”
He urged Europe to utilize its capabilities to safeguard its interests in light of escalating trade threats from Trump, particularly before the US President’s scheduled address on Wednesday.
Macron began his speech by stating, “It’s a time of peace, stability, and predictability, yet we find ourselves facing instability and imbalance,” pointing out that “conflict has become normalized.”
Although Macron refrained from directly addressing Trump, he remarked on the numerous conflicts of 2025, noting that “some have been resolved,” and expressed a preference for “respect over bullying.”
Following his speech, Macron told reporters that he did not plan to speak with his US counterpart at the forum.
Macron’s Davos statement comes after Trump published messages showing the French leader’s confusion over the US President’s plans to take control of Greenland.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he delivers a speech during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 20, 2026
Sporting a pair of aviator sunglasses due to a current eye condition, the French president told the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday: ‘It’s… a shift towards a world without rules, where international law is trampled underfoot’
President Emmanuel Macron, Senate President Gerard Larcher, and National Assembly President Yael Braun Pivet participate in a meeting on the institutional future of New Caledonia on January 19, 2026, at the Elysee Palace in Paris
France’s President Emmanuel Macron (2L) greets Queen Mathilde of Belgium (R) in front of King Philippe – Filip of Belgium (C) during the World Economic Forum
Trump posted screenshots on his Truth Social platform showing Macron offering to host a meeting with ‘Ukrainians, the Danish, the Syrians, and the Russians’ and inviting the US president to dinner in Paris.
‘My friend … I do not understand what you are doing in Greenland,’ Macron wrote. ‘Let us try to build great things.’
The message emerged after Macron declined Trump’s invitation to join his Board of Peace initiative, prompting the US leader to threaten 200 per cent tariffs on wine and champagne.
‘Well, nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon,’ Trump told reporters on Monday. ‘I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes and he’ll join.’
During a press briefing before Macron’s speech, the Elysee heavily criticised Trump’s tariff strategy, stating that France does not view tariffs as a viable solution to international or economic issues.
French government officials described the coercive trade approach as anti-cooperation and a fundamentally flawed method.
The French leader’s appearance at Davos coincides with the EU summit scheduled for Thursday, the same day Macron proposed hosting Trump in Paris for a dinner and expanded G7 meeting.
Macron has been at the forefront of European pushback, with French officials calling for activation of the EU’s anti-coercion instrument, an emergency mechanism that would restrict US companies’ ability to operate in European markets.
Trump agreed earlier on Monday to a meeting at Davos during a call with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, but insisted there can be no going back on Washington’s control over Greenland, as the Arctic island remains vital for US and world security.
Just a day prior, Trump sent a letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, attributing his Greenland demands to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
The message, which Trump shared with other NATO leaders, stated that ‘considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars plus, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace.’
The clash over Trump’s ambitions for Greenland follows the French President’s recent vow to strengthen France’s military presence on the Arctic island.
Around 15 French soldiers are already deployed in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, for exercises, with additional land, air, and naval assets being reinforced.
Speaking to armed forces at Istres Air Base last week, Macron declared 2026 would be a year of challenges for French defence and confirmed plans for£31.3billion in additional military spending from 2026 to 2030.
“To remain free, one must be feared, and to be feared, one must be powerful. To be powerful in this brutal world, we must act faster and stronger,” Macron said.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
