US President Donald Trump reportedly mocked French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron during a private lunch in Washington, imitating a French accent and claiming Brigitte “treats him extremely badly.” A video of the comments briefly appeared on the White House YouTube channel before being removed, sparking outrage in France. The incident occurred as Trump allegedly criticized NATO allies for not joining the war against Iran.

Upon arriving in South Korea, Macron expressed displeasure, telling reporters: “I am not going to respond to them – they do not merit a response.” French politicians condemned Trump’s behavior, with Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of France’s lower house of parliament, stating it was “not up to par” and highlighting the inappropriate timing amid global discussions on Iran, where “people are dying on the battlefield.”

Manuel Bompard, national coordinator of the radical left party La France Insoumise, defended Macron despite political disagreements, calling Trump’s remarks “absolutely unacceptable.” The conservative French daily Le Figaro described it as “another controversial outburst from Donald Trump.” Trump’s comments referenced a 2025 video showing Brigitte Macron pushing her husband, which Macron had dismissed as a joke.

The spat underscores growing diplomatic friction between the US and France, with Trump’s purported skepticism toward NATO allies adding to tensions. His suggestion that NATO “won’t be there if we ever have the big one” raises questions about the reliability of transatlantic cooperation under the current US administration.

This incident reflects broader challenges in US-European relations, as the American regime’s approach to international alliances continues to face criticism for undermining unity and stability on the global stage.

Source: www.theguardian.com