Trump rips Macron on defence, trade, wine

WASHINGTON— Nursing grievances from a weekend visit to France, U.S. President Donald Trump lit into French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday over his suggestion for a European defence force, over French tariffs on U.S. wine and even Macron’s approval ratings.

The litany of tweeted complaints served to underscore tensions between the oncechummy leaders and laid bare Trump’s irritation over criticism stemming from his latest trip abroad.

Trump’s tweets included a fresh complaint about Macron’s recent suggestion that Europe build up its militaries because the continent can no longer depend on the U.S. for defence. He misrepresented the French leader’s comments along the way, even though the two presidents had talked through the issue while Trump was in France over the weekend.

“Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia,” Trump tweeted. “But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two — How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!”

In fact, Macron said Europe needs to protect itself against cyberthreats from China, Russia and the U.S. The French leader’s office said Trump had lumped together Macron’s remarks on protecting against cyberthreats with a later statement on military defence.