Fact Check: "French President Emmanuel Macron visited Greenland on September 1, 2019, and criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to annex the territory."
What We Know
The claim states that French President Emmanuel Macron visited Greenland on September 1, 2019, and criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's threats regarding the territory. However, this claim is inaccurate. Macron's notable visit to Greenland occurred on June 15, 2025, not in 2019. During this visit, Macron did express strong criticism of Trump's intentions to acquire Greenland, stating that the territory is "not to be sold" and emphasizing European solidarity with Greenland against such threats (AP News, BBC, Washington Post).
Analysis
The assertion that Macron visited Greenland in September 2019 is factually incorrect. The timeline of events shows that Macron's visit to Greenland was part of a broader diplomatic effort to support Denmark and its semi-autonomous territory amid rising geopolitical tensions, particularly due to Trump's controversial remarks about acquiring Greenland (Reuters, Global News).
During the June 2025 visit, Macron's statements were made in direct response to Trump's earlier comments about the potential acquisition of Greenland, which had sparked international concern and criticism (The Guardian, South China Morning Post).
The sources used in this analysis are credible news outlets with established reputations for accurate reporting. They provide consistent information regarding the timing of Macron's visit and the context of his remarks concerning Trump's threats.
Conclusion
The claim that French President Emmanuel Macron visited Greenland on September 1, 2019, and criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's annexation threats is False. The visit took place on June 15, 2025, and was characterized by Macron's vocal support for Greenland's sovereignty in the face of U.S. threats. The misrepresentation of the date and context of the visit undermines the accuracy of the claim.
Sources
- Macron visits Greenland to signal European resolve after Trump ...
- Macron to visit Greenland to show European support for the strategic ...
- Macron visits Greenland in show of European unity and signal to Trump - BBC
- Macron visits Greenland, criticizes Trump's takeover threats on way to ...
- Macron criticises Trump's threats to take over Greenland ...
- Macron, on Greenland visit, berates Trump for threats against the ...
