Trump assails Macron, defends skipping event
WASHINGTON — President Trump issued a blistering personal attack on Tuesday against President Emmanuel Macron of France, his host last weekend, and sought to douse a furor over his decision not to visit a cemetery of U.S. soldiers while in France because of rain.
Two days after returning from Paris, Trump responded via Twitter to Macron’s denunciation of nationalism by accusing the French president of what he himself is often accused of — trying to change the subject.
“The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%,” wrote Trump, whose own approval rating in France is 9 percent. “He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud peopleand rightfully so!”
In a variation of his own campaign slogan, Trump added: “MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump, who traveled to France for ceremonies hosted by Macron marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, also defended himself against critics who assailed his decision to cancel a trip on Saturday to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery at the foot of the hill where the Battle of Belleau Wood was fought. Aides at the time cited the rainy weather, suggesting it was too problematic to fly in his Marine One helicopter.
Critics have been scathing, noting that the soldiers who fought at Belleau Wood faced far worse than rain and questioning why the president did not go by road instead. Other leaders in Paris for the anniversary still managed to visit cemeteries despite the weather. The grandson of Winston Churchill called Trump “pathetic” and the drumbeat of mockery has only continued in the days since the event.
Trump the next day did follow through with another scheduled visit to the Suresnes American Cemetery just outside Paris, where he spoke in the rain and complained lightheartedly about being drenched.
“By the way, when the helicopter couldn’t fly to the first cemetery in France because of almost zero visibility, I suggested driving,” he wrote on Tuesday. “Secret Service said NO, too far from airport & big Paris shutdown. Speech next day at American Cemetary in pouring rain! Little reported-Fake News!” He later corrected his spelling of cemetery.
The attack on Macron underscored the tension that has grown in their relationship. While Macron at first tried to forge a friendship with Trump, the two have since fallen out over a variety of issues, including security, trade and Iran. Their meeting in Paris on Saturday was frosty and Macron’s speech at the anniversary ceremony on Sunday was widely perceived as an implicit rebuke of Trump’s “America First” approach to international affairs, although he never mentioned the U.S. president by name.