Trump in new sexism row over comments to French first lady
It may have been meant as a compliment, but whether Brigitte Trogneux, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, appreciated being told by Donald Trump that she was in “such good shape” was a matter of conjecture.
Video footage posted on the French Government's official Facebook page showed Trump, Macron and their wives chatting after their tour of the museums at Les Invalides.
As they were saying their goodbyes, Trump turned to Trogneux and gestured toward her body.
“You know, you’re in such good shape,” Trump said, before repeating the observation to her husband. “Beautiful,” he added.
Last month the United States President just about got away with telling Caitriona Perry — the Irish broadcaster RTE’s Washington correspondent, that she had a “nice smile”. The Irish journalist posted a video on Twitter describing the incident as a “bizarre moment”, but did not appear to have been offended by the remark even if others thought it was blatantly sexist.
However, passing a comment on the appearance of France’s first lady — even a favourable one — could have been seen as a diplomatic gaffe.
The US president was treading on very sensitive territory with Macron being 25 years younger than his 64 year- old- wife — a subject which has generated some discussion in France and abroad. Trogneux was Macron's high school teacher.
At 71, Trump is 24 years older than the US first lady, Melania — but the age gap has caused far less comment.
During the French election campaign, those who sought to make capital out of the age difference between Macron and his wife were accused of misogyny. Tiphaine Auziere, Trogneux’s daughter, described the attacks as “totally outrageous” in one interview.
The Paris incident will be seen as just the latest offence on a lengthy Trump sexism charge sheet.
During the election, he said that nobody would vote for his Republican rival for the nomination, Carly Fiorina, because of her appearance.
His feud with Rosie O’Donnell, a comedian, culminated with the then- business tycoon dismissing her as a slob.
When Trump was a candidate, his campaign came close to being derailed by the leaking of a torrent of taped sexist remarks and comments he made during a highprofile feud with TV presenter Megyn Kelly, who challenged his track record during the first Republican candidates’ debate. Hard to defend Trump jnr