Category: Foreign Policy

Trump Officials Meet Alberta Separatist Group Seeking $500B

Officials from the Trump administration held three secret meetings in Washington since April with leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a far-right Canadian separatist organization seeking independence for Alberta. The group claims to have met with “very, very senior” U.S. government officials and plans to request a $500 billion credit facility, according to reporting on these clandestine encounters.

Both the White House and State Department have publicly denied making any commitments or pledges to the separatist group. A spokesperson stated explicitly that no support or other assurances were conveyed during any interactions, contradicting the Alberta Prosperity Project’s claims about the scope and substance of the meetings.

These meetings occurred amid escalating U.S.-Canada tensions, including remarks by a Treasury Secretary about Alberta’s independence and threats regarding tariffs and Canadian sovereignty. The timing demonstrates the Trump administration’s willingness to entertain conversations with fringe separatist movements while maintaining official denials of substantive engagement.

Public opposition to Alberta separation remains strong within the province itself, with an Alberta government spokesperson noting most residents oppose independence. A counter-petition against separation collected significantly more signatures than those supporting the separatist cause, undercutting the group’s claim to represent popular sentiment.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/alberta-canada-separatist-group-trump-officials-b2910271.html)

Trump Deploys Massive Armada to Iran Threatening Military Escalation

President Trump announced on Truth Social Wednesday that a “massive Armada” is en route to Iran, demanding the regime negotiate and threatening escalated military strikes. Trump stated the fleet is “moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose,” and explicitly warned that “the next attack will be far worse” if Iran does not comply with his demand for a nuclear weapons-free agreement.

Trump referenced a prior military operation against Iran called “Operation Midnight Hammer,” describing it as “a major destruction of Iran,” and framed the current deployment as leverage to force Iranian leadership to “Come to the Table” and accept his terms. He invoked artificial urgency, declaring “Time is running out, it is truly of the essence,” while using characteristic ultimatums demanding Iran “MAKE A DEAL!”

The military escalation coincides with ongoing civil unrest in Iran, where reports document thousands of deaths during protests. Trump previously threatened military intervention to support demonstrators, then reversed course by claiming “the killing in Iran is stopping” and signaling openness to negotiation with Iranian rulers—a pattern demonstrating his willingness to weaponize humanitarian crises for geopolitical leverage.

Trump made similar threats to reporters aboard Air Force One returning from Davos last week, stating “We’re watching Iran” and confirming that ships were being repositioned “just in case.” These repeated warnings escalate tensions through military posturing while Trump simultaneously presents himself as open to diplomatic resolution, a contradiction characteristic of his pattern of weaponizing foreign relations for domestic political effect.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-reveals-hes-sending-massive-armada-to-iran-warns-regime-next-attack-will-be-far-worse/)

Trump Threatens 100% Canada Tariffs Over China Trade Deal

President Trump threatened Canada with 100 percent tariffs on all goods if Prime Minister Mark Carney proceeds with a strategic partnership deal with China. Trump wrote on Truth Social that Canada would become a “Drop Off Port” for Chinese products entering the U.S. market, claiming China would “eat Canada alive” and destroy its economy if such an agreement moved forward. Trump’s threat directly contradicted his earlier public statement that Carney “should be doing” and that a trade deal would be “a good thing for him to sign.”

Carney announced the China partnership earlier this month, which includes plans for China to lower canola tariffs to 15 percent by March 1, while Canada permits 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into its market. The agreement emerged following Carney’s first visit to China by a Canadian prime minister in nearly a decade and focuses on expanding trade in agriculture, energy, and finance between the two nations.

Trump’s tariff threat followed Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the prime minister warned of “an era of great power rivalry” and declared that the U.S.-led global order was finished and “not coming back.” Without naming Trump directly, Carney’s remarks functioned as a direct rebuke of the president’s tariff regime, his previous demands to annex Canada as the 51st state, and his efforts to acquire Greenland.

Days after Carney’s speech, Trump retaliated by disinviting Canada from his newly established “Board of Peace,” which he described as “the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled.” Trump wrote on Truth Social that the board was “withdrawing its invitation” to Canada, contradicting earlier reports that Carney had planned to accept membership in the organization, which Trump positioned as central to addressing Gaza.

Trump’s escalating threats demonstrate his use of tariffs and exclusion as political weapons against allies who pursue independent diplomatic initiatives. The confrontation underscores Trump’s demand for absolute deference from neighboring nations and his willingness to weaponize trade policy against countries that resist his territorial and geopolitical ambitions.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-tariffs-china-canada-carney-deal-b2906976.html)

Trump Chairs New Board of Peace, Isolates Western Allies

President Donald Trump signed a charter establishing his “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 23, 2026, positioning himself as permanent chairman of the body. Trump declared the board “one of the most consequential bodies ever created,” though major Western allies including the United Kingdom, France, Norway, Sweden, and Slovenia declined to participate, citing concerns about the organization’s structure, mandate expansion beyond Gaza, and the involvement of authoritarian figures like Vladimir Putin.

The board’s charter grants Trump chairmanship that can only be terminated through his voluntary resignation or unanimous Executive Board vote determining incapacity—a provision that effectively insulates him from removal. Countries contributing over $1 billion receive permanent membership status, while standard members serve three-year terms, creating a two-tiered system based on financial commitment that blurs governance with fundraising.

More than 20 countries, including Argentina, Turkey, Hungary, Israel, Qatar, Pakistan, and Azerbaijan, committed to joining, while Russia and China received invitations without confirming participation. Trump withdrew Canada’s invitation after a dispute with Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Belgium publicly denied signing despite initial White House claims of its participation, undermining the organization’s credibility before its formal launch.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Tony Blair, and World Bank President Ajay Banga form the founding Executive Board under Trump’s direct authority. Rubio contrasted the board’s promised “action” against the United Nations’ “strongly worded statements,” signaling Trump’s intent to position this body as a replacement framework for international conflict resolution independent of existing multilateral institutions.

France explicitly stated the board’s charter “goes beyond the sole framework of Gaza and raises serious questions” about undermining United Nations principles, while British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper documented objections to Putin’s potential participation in a peace mechanism given his active war in Ukraine. The selective membership and Trump-controlled structure demonstrate an attempt to construct an alternative international order bypassing democratic oversight and established diplomatic norms.

(Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/trump-board-of-peace-countries-davos-cost-nato-what-know-rcna255433)

Trump Suggests Switzerland Tariffs Stemmed From Friction With Swiss President – The New York Times

President Trump disclosed that he imposed a 39 percent tariff on Switzerland in August 2024 after a personal dispute with then-President Karin Keller-Sutter during a phone call he characterized as adversarial. Trump stated he initially planned a 30 percent rate but increased it to 39 percent after Keller-Sutter repeatedly objected, saying her repetitive pushback and aggressive tone “rubbed me the wrong way.” The tariff far exceeded rates negotiated with the European Union at 15 percent and Britain at 10 percent, revealing that personal friction—not trade policy analysis—determined the rate.

Trump recounted that Keller-Sutter emphasized Switzerland’s small size and inability to absorb such tariffs, to which Trump responded by referencing the U.S. trade deficit with the country. The Swiss central bank had noted that gold bullion and bars—which comprised roughly two-thirds of Swiss exports to the United States at that time—should not be counted in trade balance calculations, undermining Trump’s rationale. Trump’s acknowledgment that the tariff was retaliatory rather than economically justified contradicts any legitimate trade policy framework.

After the rate hike, Trump said “all hell really broke out” and that Rolex and other Swiss representatives lobbied to reduce the tariff. Trump eventually cut the rate to 15 percent, matching the European Union’s rate. Keller-Sutter’s presidential term ended in December, and Trump later remarked that Switzerland exists only because of U.S. support, stating “They’re only good because of us,” a comment that prompted gasps from World Economic Forum attendees in Davos.

Trump’s public explanation reveals how personal grievance and authoritarian impulse shape his trade decisions rather than coherent economic strategy. Using tariffs as punishment for perceived disrespect weaponizes trade policy as a tool for enforcing personal loyalty, establishing a pattern where foreign leaders must defer to Trump’s demands or face economic retaliation regardless of factual merit or proportionality.

(Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/us/politics/trump-switzerland-tariffs-personal-friction.html)

Trump Denies Nobel Prize Letter Despite Greenland

President Trump denied caring about the Nobel Peace Prize during a late-night gaggle with reporters Monday after attending the college football championship in Miami, despite having sent a letter to Norway’s Prime Minister explicitly linking his Greenland annexation threats to Norway’s failure to award him the prize. In the letter, Trump stated he no longer feels obligated to prioritize peace because Norway did not recognize him for allegedly stopping “8 Wars PLUS,” a claim unsupported by fact.

When confronted by a reporter about the letter’s direct connection between the Nobel Prize and his Greenland ambitions, Trump flatly denied the letter’s contents and his interest in the award. Trump claimed Norway controls the Nobel Prize committee and asserted he does not care about Norway’s opinion, while simultaneously defending his accomplishments and insisting he has saved “tens of millions of lives” by stopping multiple conflicts.

Trump’s denial contradicts the documented letter he sent to Norway, in which he explicitly conditioned his commitment to peace on receiving international recognition. Trump previously linked his Greenland acquisition push to Norway’s refusal to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, directly connecting territorial aggression to personal grievance over the award.

The contradiction between Trump’s written statements and his public denial demonstrates his pattern of disavowing documented communications when challenged by press. Trump has previously published private messages from foreign leaders on social media without authorization, establishing his willingness to weaponize diplomatic correspondence for personal or political purposes.

Trump’s false claim of stopping eight wars remains unsubstantiated, and the Nobel Prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, not controlled by the Norwegian government as Trump asserted. His late-night denial represents another instance of Trump contradicting his own documented actions when confronted by journalists.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-makes-stunning-denial-reporter-141659650.html)

Trump Posts Private Macron Message Threatening French

President Trump posted a private text message from French President Emmanuel Macron to Truth Social on Monday evening, revealing Macron’s explicit rejection of Trump’s Greenland annexation ambitions. The message, which Macron sent inviting Trump to dinner in Paris, stated “I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland” while offering cooperation on Syria, Iran, and a potential G7 meeting. Trump’s decision to publicly expose the private communication occurred just one hour after he threatened Macron with a 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes for declining an invitation to join Trump’s controversial “Board of Peace.”

Macron had formally rejected Trump’s Board of Peace invitation on Monday, asserting that the board’s charter “goes beyond the framework of Gaza and raises serious questions, in particular with respect to the principles and structure of the United Nations, which cannot be called into question.” Trump responded to reporters by dismissing Macron, claiming “nobody wants him because he’s gonna be out of office very soon” and threatening economic retaliation through punitive tariffs if Macron continued to resist his demands.

Trump’s breach of diplomatic confidentiality demonstrates his pattern of weaponizing personal communications for public humiliation. By posting Macron’s private message without consent, Trump violated established norms of executive-level diplomacy and transformed a confidential appeal for constructive engagement into a public spectacle on his Truth Social platform. The move reflects Trump’s documented hostility toward allied leaders who resist his territorial ambitions, as evidenced by his continued promotion of annexing Greenland, Canada, and Venezuela.

Macron’s message attempted diplomatic persuasion by emphasizing areas of agreement on Syria and Iran while directly confronting Trump’s Greenland agenda. However, Trump’s response—combining economic threats with public exposure of private communications—signals his abandonment of traditional diplomatic channels in favor of coercive tactics. The incident underscores the deteriorating state of U.S.-France relations under Trump’s leadership, characterized by contempt for allied leadership and disdain for confidentiality.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-posts-private-message-from-french-president-macron-to-truth-social-i-do-not-understand-what-you-are-doing/)

Trump Posts AI Map Adding Greenland Canada Venezuela to US

President Trump posted an AI-edited image on Truth Social depicting a map of North America that incorporates Greenland, Canada, and Venezuela as U.S. territory, taken during a meeting with European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in August 2025. The image reinforces Trump’s stated intent to annex these territories, which he has publicly pursued since returning to office in January 2025.

Trump has repeatedly demanded U.S. acquisition of Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, citing national security concerns regarding Russian and Chinese threats to the Arctic. He has threatened escalating tariffs on eight European nations—10 percent starting February 1, rising to 25 percent on June 1—unless Denmark agrees to what he calls a “Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.” Trump has declined to rule out military force to achieve this objective and has threatened additional tariffs on European allies resistant to the annexation plan.

Trump has directed military planners to develop invasion contingencies for Greenland, following the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The timing reflects Trump’s broader pattern of territorial expansion rhetoric, which now extends to claims that the United States should absorb Canada as a 51st state and control Venezuela.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen publicly rejected the annexation proposal, stating “Greenland does not want to be governed from the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States.” Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Canada have deployed military personnel to Greenland in response to Trump’s annexation threats, with multiple European nations issuing joint statements affirming solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.

The European Union has convened emergency ambassadorial meetings to discuss retaliatory trade measures against U.S. tariffs, signaling deepening transatlantic fracture over Trump’s unilateral territorial ambitions and coercive economic threats directed at NATO allies.

(Source: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-shares-map-of-us-including-greenland-canada-venezuela-11384438)

A dozen right-wing influencers posted identical messages to give Trump congressional powers

A dozen right-wing influencers posted nearly identical and frequently false attacks against semiconductor export legislation over a 27-hour period on Thursday, according to reporting by The Midas Project on X. The coordinated campaign targeted a bill most social media users had not previously encountered, suggesting organized messaging rather than organic political discussion.

The synchronized nature of the posts—featuring similar language and timing across multiple accounts—indicates coordinated amplification of a specific policy attack. The Trump administration has invested over $10 billion in taxpayer funds to acquire minority ownership stakes in semiconductor companies, creating potential financial incentives for selective messaging on chip-related legislation.

The inaccuracies in the influencers' posts underscore the deliberate nature of the campaign, as fact-checking would have readily corrected the false claims being distributed. The bill itself remains largely unknown to the general public, yet received concentrated negative attention from this coordinated network.

This episode demonstrates how right-wing media figures can rapidly amplify messaging on specific policy issues through synchronized social media campaigns, regardless of factual accuracy. Trump has previously announced a 100% tariff on imported computer chips, linking his administration directly to semiconductor policy outcomes and potential financial interests.

(Source: https://x.com/TheMidasProj/status/2012589823014371357)

Germany, Other NATO Allies Sending Troops to Greenland Amid Trump Threats

Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Canada are deploying military personnel to Greenland in response to Trump’s repeated threats to annex the Danish territory. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced that Swedish Armed Forces officers arrived Wednesday as part of a multinational operation at Denmark’s request, framed as strengthening regional security under Operation Arctic Endurance. Germany confirmed deployment of over a dozen reconnaissance troops on Thursday, while France has also engaged diplomatically though without formal announcement.

Trump declared on Truth Social that U.S. control of Greenland is “vital” for national security and the “Golden Dome” missile defense system, stating “Anything less than that is unacceptable.” He has repeatedly threatened military action, saying he will acquire Greenland the “easy way” or “hard way” regardless of consent, and warned that U.S. military planners have prepared invasion scenarios for the NATO ally territory.

Greenland, a self-governing territory within Denmark’s kingdom since 1979, maintains Danish authority over foreign policy and defense. Both Danish and Greenlandic leaders have categorically rejected U.S. sovereignty claims, with Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stating at a press conference: “If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark.” The Danish government reaffirmed that “Greenland’s future is for Greenlanders alone to decide.”

NATO allies are framing the troop deployments as political solidarity with Denmark and Arctic security strengthening, directly contradicting Trump’s annexation demands. The Danish government stated the increased military presence aims to “train the ability to operate in Arctic conditions and strengthen the Alliance’s footprint” for European and transatlantic security. European leaders view the coordinated deployments as demonstrating NATO unity against Trump’s unilateral pressure.

The escalating conflict exposes fundamental divisions between Washington and European capitals over the legitimacy of U.S. global ambitions and threatens NATO cohesion. Trump’s assertion that he is constrained only by his “own morality” and not international law underscores the severity of the geopolitical rupture as diplomatic tensions continue ahead of scheduled U.S.-Danish meetings on Arctic security.

(Source: https://www.newsweek.com/greenland-germany-sending-troops-nato-donald-trump-threats-11361535)

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