Macron and Trump commence verbal jousting on world stage

LONDON — A once-cordial relationship between President Donald Trump and President Emmanuel Macron of France devolved in a dramatic fashion Tuesday, as the two leaders publicly sparred over their approach to containing the threat of terrorism and a shared vision for the future of NATO, a 70-year-old alliance facing existential threats on multiple fronts.

What happened

In a lengthy appearance before reporters, the president was met with a cool reception from Macron, whom Trump derided earlier in the day as “very insulting” for his recent remarks on the “brain death” of the alliance. When asked to address his earlier comments on the French leader, Trump, a leader averse to face-to-face confrontation, initially demurred, but Macron was direct.

“My statement created some reactions,” Macron said. “I do stand by it.”

What followed was an extended, terse back-and-forth over trade, immigration and Trump’s relationship with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.

Trump’s interactions with the Turkish president are sure to be closely watched. Erdogan, who has already upset NATO allies by purchasing a sophisticated Russian anti-aircraft missile system, the S-400, is now threatening to oppose NATO’s plans to update the defense of Poland and the Baltic countries if the alliance does not join him in labeling some Kurdish groups as terrorists.

“Who is the enemy today?” Macron asked. “And let’s be clear and work together on that.”

The meeting continued to devolve as the two discussed the containment of Islamic State fighters in Syria. Trump tried to jokingly offer captive fighters to the French.

“Would you like some nice ISIS fighters?” Trump said.

“Let’s be serious,” a stonefaced Macron replied. Macron said that he and Trump “don’t have the same definition of terrorism around the table.”

“When I look at Turkey, they are fighting against those who fight with us,” he added, referring to Kurdish fighters.

Why it matters

Trump’s defense of NATO against Macron’s comments was something of a role reversal for the two leaders. In the past, Trump has been so disruptive at NATO meetings that he triggered an emergency session. He has accused other member countries of shortchanging the United States on military spending, and he has questioned whether the alliance still served a purpose.

A goal of these meeting was to avoid any formal disruptions. This time, however, it was Macron’s comments that were viewed as unhelpful to the alliance.

Trump called the remarks a “very, very nasty statement essentially to 28 countries” and said that NATO served a “great purpose.”

Heather A. Conley, director of the Europe program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Macron saw an opportunity to assert French leadership in Europe, with Britain moving toward leaving the European Union and the German government enmeshed in its own political troubles.

“President Macron is seizing that moment, seeking to be disruptive in his own way, and so we will see how that works,” she said.

NEW YORK TIMES President Emmanuel Macron of France and President Donald Trump pulled no punches with each other Tuesday in London as they made public their disagreements with one another.