Trump Demands Greenland, Hits NATO Allies with Tariff Tantrum

KEY POINTS

•On January 18, Trump announced 10% tariffs on eight NATO allies aiming for a Greenland deal, escalating to 25% by June.
•European leaders, led by Macron and Von der Leyen, threatened to use the EU's anti-coercion instrument, calling Trump's moves 'blackmail.'
•Despite backlash, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insisted Greenland is key for U.S. security and portrayed the U.S. as strong.

In a move that screams 'diplomatic subtlety is overrated,' President Trump announced 10% tariffs starting Feb. 1 on eight NATO allies—France, Germany, U.K., Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland—bumping to 25% in June unless they agree to sell Greenland to the U.S. French President Emmanuel Macron and the EU threatened to unleash a never-before-used 2023 anti-coercion bazooka aimed at American companies, leaving the White House mysteriously silent. European heavyweights like Manfred Weber called the U.S.–EU trade deal dead on arrival, while Bernd Lange slammed Trump's threats as 'unbelievable,' warning the whole thing risks a 'downward spiral.' Despite EU leaders uniting against this 'blackmail,' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent doubled down, claiming U.S. strength vs. 'European weakness' in the cold quest for an icy real estate flex.