Macron, Trump ‘bromance’ over
TWEETS: DONALD TELLS COUNTERPART ‘HOME TRUTHS’
Leader reminds France they faced defeat by Germany in both world wars.
US President Donald Trump attacked his French counterpart on Tuesday in a series of tweets that underscored how much the once-friendly ties between the two leaders have soured, just two days after returning from Paris.
In five posts sent on the same day that French officials marked the anniversary of the 2015 terrorist attacks that killed 130 people in Paris, Trump blasted the key US ally over its near defeat to Germany in two world wars, its wine industry and Emmanuel Macron’s approval ratings.
Trump returned to Washington from a weekend in Paris to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I where strained relations between the US president and European allies were on full display.
On Tuesday, Trump rejected Macron’s warnings against the threat of nationalism, delivered during a ceremony in Paris.
A stony-faced Trump, who listened from a few metres away, has described himself as a nationalist and has promoted an “America First” policy.
Trump, a real estate developer and former reality TV star who owns a Virginia winery, said Macron has a “low approval rating”, accused France of unfair trade practices over wine and attacked the news coverage of his trip.
He pointed to Macron’s recent comments about Europe’s need to protect itself, tweeting “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!”
“By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people – and rightfully so!” Trump wrote in other tweets, ending with “Make France Great Again!”
Trump defended his much-criticised absence from a commemoration event on Saturday, saying the US Secret Service had vetoed driving to the venue because of logistics. The White House earlier had said it cancelled Trump’s appearance, citing poor weather that grounded a planned helicopter flight to the site.
White House director of strategic communications Mercedes Schlapp, meanwhile, cast Trump’s trip in a positive light on Tuesday. “It was clearly a successful trip”, adding Trump and Macron “had a productive meeting” on trade and Nato. – Reuters