In a stunning social media outburst, former US President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on the UK and European leaders, accusing them of “stupidity” and “total weakness” over the Chagos Islands issue. The explosive meltdown comes as tensions escalate between the US and its transatlantic allies ahead of Trump’s expected attendance at the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Switzerland.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to post an incendiary AI-generated image showing himself planting the American flag on Greenland, a territory that has been a point of contention between the US and its European partners. Another doctored image depicted European leaders, including UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, in the Oval Office examining a map where Greenland, Canada, and Venezuela were all covered in the US flag.
The former president also leaked private text messages he had received from French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, further exacerbating the diplomatic tensions. In a White House briefing, Trump ominously hinted at his intentions, telling reporters, “You’ll find out” when asked how far he would go to acquire the Arctic island.
Trump’s outburst comes as the US and its European allies have been at odds over his ambitions to exert greater control over Greenland, a strategically important territory. The Chagos Islands issue, where the UK has been accused of forcibly removing the native population to make way for a US military base, has also been a source of contention.
Downing Street was caught off guard by Trump’s extraordinary attack, which blindsided the British government. The former president’s tirade against the UK and Europe underscores the deteriorating transatlantic relations and the challenges facing the current administration in navigating these complex geopolitical tensions.
As Trump prepares to attend the high-profile Davos summit, the international community will be closely watching to see how this latest diplomatic row unfolds and whether it will further strain the already fragile relationship between the US and its European partners.
