On 1/4, during a private White House luncheon, US President Donald Trump sharply criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for not supporting Washington's ongoing military campaign in the Middle East.
"I called the French president, who is treated very poorly by his wife and is recovering from a punch to the right side of his jaw", Trump said, seemingly referencing a 5/2025 video where Brigitte Macron allegedly pushed her husband's face on the presidential plane.
After the video circulated, Macron denied any "family conflict", stating they were "just joking as usual".
Trump recounted a recent call where he asked the French president for support in the Gulf, despite Washington "setting records in eliminating bad actors and shooting down ballistic missiles". The US president recalled telling the French leader, "We really want help, if you can, send ships immediately".
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US President Donald Trump (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron. Photo: AFP |
The White House chief then mimicked a French accent, giving what he claimed was Macron's response: "'No, no, no, we cannot do that, Donald. We can only act after the war is over'. I replied, 'No, no, by the time we win, I won't need you anymore, Emmanuel'", Trump said.
Following Trump's mockery, the French president stated on 2/4 that such remarks were "impolite and improper".
"I will not respond to those comments, because they are not worth it", Macron told reporters while visiting Seoul, South Korea with his wife Brigitte, adding that his focus was on "de-escalation efforts" in the Middle East and working towards a ceasefire.
The French president also suggested there was too much talk and confusion, seemingly referring to Trump's frequent policy shifts. "We all need stability, calm, and peace to return. This is not a show!", Macron emphasized.
Many French politicians were also outraged by the US president's comments. "Frankly, it's completely improper", stated French National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet. "We are discussing the future of the world. Right now, in Iran, the situation impacts the lives of millions of people, many are dying on the battlefield, yet a president is laughing and mocking others".
Manuel Bompard, coordinator of the left-wing France Unbowed party, who frequently criticizes the French president, also spoke out in defense of Macron.
"Everyone knows the extent of my disagreements with President Macron, but for Donald Trump to speak about him and his wife in such a way is completely unacceptable", Bompard told BFMTV.
Trump and Macron once shared a close relationship during the US president's first term, but over the past year, the leaders have repeatedly disagreed on international policy.
France has deployed some military forces to the Persian Gulf region, dispatching fighter jets and air defense systems to protect Arab allies, and deployed naval forces off the coast of Cyprus, a European Union member state that was previously attacked by drones.
However, President Macron has refused to support the US's attack campaign against Iran. France, along with European allies like Spain and Italy, also prohibited US military aircraft from using their airbases for airstrikes against Iran.
Huyen Le (AFP, CNN)
