Days after visit, Trump blasts France's Macron as relations sour

[webfact]

Days after visit, Trump blasts France's Macron as relations sour

By Susan Heavey and Luke Baker

 

U.S. President Donald Trump leaves after a meeting at the Elysee Palace with French President Emmanuel Macron on the eve of the commemoration ceremony for Armistice Day, 100 years after the end of the First World War, in Paris, France, November 10, 2018. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler

 

WASHINGTON/PARIS (Reuters) - U.S. 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 U.S. ally over its near defeat to Germany in two world wars, its wine industry and Macron's approval ratings.

 

Trump returned to Washington from a weekend in Paris to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War One where strained relations between the American president and European allies were on full display.

 

On Tuesday, Trump rejected Macron's warnings against the threat of nationalism, delivered during an emotional ceremony in Paris on Sunday attended by scores of world leaders.

 

A stony-faced Trump, who listened a few feet away, has described himself as a nationalist and has promoted an "America First" policy.

 

Trump, a real estate developer and former reality television 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.

 

Trump 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!"

 

He defended his much-criticized absence from a commemoration event on Saturday, saying the U.S. 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 Paris trip in a positive light.

 

"It was clearly a successful trip," Schlapp told Fox News on Tuesday, saying Trump and Macron "had a productive meeting" on trade and NATO.

 

"He has sent a strong message to our European allies. And we have seen some changes and some positive shifts coming from our allies to pay more to NATO. We need their support," she said.

 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday that Trump had isolated himself at one of the weekend events by deciding not to attend the Paris Peace Forum, which Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended.

 

Trump also travelled in a motorcade to the Armistice commemoration while most other world leaders walked the last 100 metres (328 ft) or so to the ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe.

 

Asked on television if the United States was still a French ally, Le Drain answered yes.

 

Before his arrival, Trump had blasted comments that Macron made in a radio interview in which he appeared to cast the United States as a threat.

 

Both French officials and the White House said any misunderstandings had been cleared up after Macron and Trump held talks on Saturday.

 

In Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Mattis on Tuesday backed NATO.

 

Asked whether he supported an EU military, Mattis told reporters: "We see NATO as the cornerstone for the protection of Europe in the security realm and we fully support nations doing more to carry the load."

 

On Sunday, Macron delivered his hard-hitting remarks.

 

"Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism," he said. "When we say 'our interests come first, those of others don't matter,' we erase the very thing that a nation holds most precious, that which gives it life and makes it great: its moral values."

 

(Reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington and Luke Baker in Paris; Additional reporting by Richard Lough, Makini Brice and Idrees Ali; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Cynthia Osterman)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-11-14

[DoctorG]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism,"

Macron should stick to French because one of the English definitions of "nationalism" is "patriotic feelings, principles, or efforts."

Sure, if you have evil intent, you can turn it into something distasteful just to malign Trump.

 

[Emster23]

It would be an insult not to be insulted by this tantrum throwing man child.

[mtls2005]

Like most pouty 7-year-olds returning from a day at school where only the Russian kid was friendly, he returned home and immediately started whining. 

[mamypoko]

pretty thin, orange skin for wannabe strongman  

[alanrchase]

He had a few days to come up with something and that's the best he could do? Not very original. Still, they say the old ones are the best.

[klauskunkel]

[thaiguzzi]

Sticks and stones may break my bones

but names will never hurt me.

.............. apart from Donald.................

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Mercedes Schlapp,

[Credo]

Europe is dealing with him as the narcissist he is.   They did not allow him to be the center of attention, and that is not possible for a narcissist.   The commemoration couldn't be about paying homage to those who served.   It had to be about him.   

 

Macron was as gracious as a host could be.   He was polite, he reached out to him to no avail.

 

All those around him were left to cover up the mess.   "It was the weather",  "it was the Secret Service", any excuse but  not the truth.   

 

US taxpayers paid a large amount of money for him to represent the US at the events and in return we got zilch.   He's more embarrassing than a jilted bride standing at the alter.   

 

Pathetic.   Sad.

[simple1]

41 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

Macron should stick to French because one of the English definitions of "nationalism" is "patriotic feelings, principles, or efforts."

Sure, if you have evil intent, you can turn it into something distasteful just to malign Trump.

 

Better would be for trump and some members of this forum to comprehend 'nationalism' in the French context. Plus to understand comments by Macron to defend itself from US decisions, contrary to EU interests, by trump i.e. unilaterally withdrawing, among others, from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty.

 

It is obvious trump fails to empathise with or comprehend co-competition or indeed how to manage conflict. 

[Becker]

He'll do anything to turn the attention away from the fact that a draft dodging president who have repeatedly insulted war heroes now can add dishonoring fallen US soldiers to the list.

It's hard to see how he could go any lower but I'm sure he'll find a way - with the man-child there's always a lower road.

[IAMHERE]

Written by writers living in Paris, best write something the natives will like. France dislikes the USA and has at least since De Gaulle was in charge, nothing has changed with the French hatred of America. Macron wants a European Army to protect France against Russia, China, and the USA. Nothing wrong with wanting others to fight and die for you.

[Tug]

Just disgraceful couldn’t honor the fallen couldn’t walk with the rest god what a fail then insult the host just an embarrassment 

[Aforek]

16 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

France dislikes the USA and has at least since De Gaulle was in charge, nothing has changed with the French hatred of America. Macron wants a European Army to protect France against Russia, China, and the USA. Nothing wrong with wanting others to fight and die for you.

I am French and I don't feel that French don't like American people

Trump shows day after day that he is a shame for mankind, I am sorry for American people, I hope that in two years American people will elect somebody else, the American president must not be a danger for the world 

[Tug]

Thankyou aforek with luck sooner than 2 years he doesent look healthy not strong enough to walk with the others or stand in the rain looks very weak and unhealthy 

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.  

[Grouse]

Frankly, Trump is a bloody nuisance. Just ignore him.

 

Trump, do us all a favour and stay home for the remainder of your presidency. Thanks. 

[Bluespunk]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump blasted the key U.S. ally over its near defeat to Germany in two world wars

This from a man who won’t even brave the rain to honour his nation’s fallen heroes. 

Edited November 14, 2018 by Bluespunk

[Joe Mcseismic]

"Low Energy" Trump, indeed.

[Chippy151]

I am sure they can be the best of friends again.

They just have to go for a walk and hold or shake hands for a half an hour.

Just make sure the world is watching.

[mtls2005]

18 minutes ago, Grouse said:

Frankly, Trump is a bloody nuisance. Just ignore him.

 

Trump, do us all a favour and stay home for the remainder of your presidency. Thanks. 

 

12 Monday November, 2018
President Schedule The President has no public events scheduled.
The White House

 

Mission accomplished.

 

Yes, it was a holiday, Veteran's Day,  but making a trip to Arlington National Cemetary, or to Walter Reed, seems like a no-brainer? Oh heck, just stay home and tweet about ignoring ballots from servicemen and women.

 

https://factba.se/topic/calendar

 

[freebyrd]

Trump doing what he always does, hiding thousands of miles away behind his tweets.

[Becker]

36 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

12 Monday November, 2018
President Schedule The President has no public events scheduled.
The White House

 

Mission accomplished.

 

Yes, it was a holiday, Veteran's Day,  but making a trip to Arlington National Cemetary, or to Walter Reed, seems like a no-brainer? Oh heck, just stay home and tweet about ignoring ballots from servicemen and women.

 

https://factba.se/topic/calendar

 

I'm sure he was hard at work on one of his golf courses.

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, Credo said:

"It was the weather",

Maybe Trump was thinking back to this rally:

 

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, Credo said:

Europe is dealing with him as the narcissist he is.   They did not allow him to be the center of attention, and that is not possible for a narcissist.   The commemoration couldn't be about paying homage to those who served.   It had to be about him.   

 

Macron was as gracious as a host could be.   He was polite, he reached out to him to no avail.

 

All those around him were left to cover up the mess.   "It was the weather",  "it was the Secret Service", any excuse but  not the truth.   

 

US taxpayers paid a large amount of money for him to represent the US at the events and in return we got zilch.   He's more embarrassing than a jilted bride standing at the alter.   

 

Pathetic.   Sad.

 

I guess his stance is 'When will all of these foreigners and everybody realize that I own this show, I decide what themes / directions this show will take, I approve the scripts, and I make all decisions which are not up for any further discussion'.

 

'Ohh and I own the cameras'.

 

 

[Cereal]

Reading the American various media outlets, watching the news and countless TV shows, it's little wonder Americans think poorly of France. She is constantly on the sh!tty end of the stick. Few Americans know about the French underground resistance during WW2 and how big an effort it played.

 

I've been to 39 of the states in the USA over 100's of trips there and can count on 1 hand the number of Americans that knew The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France. It's astonishing how little they know about pretty much everything outside their microcosmic sphere.

[Roadman]

3 minutes ago, Cereal said:

Reading the American various media outlets, watching the news and countless TV shows, it's little wonder Americans think poorly of France. She is constantly on the sh!tty end of the stick. Few Americans know about the French underground resistance during WW2 and how big an effort it played.

 

I've been to 39 of the states in the USA over 100's of trips there and can count on 1 hand the number of Americans that knew The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France. It's astonishing how little they know about pretty much everything outside their microcosmic sphere.

I notice that too. And you can add the ridiculous statement from some Americans if it wasn't for them then the French would be speaking German but conveniently forget if it wasn't for the French they would be speaking English...the pure British form 

Edited November 14, 2018 by Roadman
Spelling

[Roadman]

3 hours ago, Aforek said:

I am French and I don't feel that French don't like American people

Trump shows day after day that he is a shame for mankind, I am sorry for American people, I hope that in two years American people will elect somebody else, the American president must not be a danger for the world 

Ummhhh. It is the American people who elected him so why feel sorry for them when it is democracy at work. As an outsider it is pure comedy watching the man child lose blowing his fuse and with the Dems taking the house it is getting even better. Besides while I am laughing at the American comedy show, I should look sideways at the bloody comedy show we have running Kiwiland. Thankfully a small scale incompetence show way down in the South Pacific doesnt command the same attention as an American comedy show. 

[Cereal]

5 minutes ago, Roadman said:

I notice that too. And you can add the ridiculous statement from some Americans if it wasn't for them then the French would be speaking German but conveniently forget if it wasn't for the French they would be speaking English...the pure British form 

You are absolutely correct. George Washington went to France twice begging for help to fight the British. France turned him down the first time as they simply didn't want to get into another war with England. The second time Washington was successful and the French joined the colonists to fight the British. Had they not helped, the colonists would have never had a chance.

 

The biggest highlight of this is from Mel Gibson's movie The Patriot which shows a single ship sailing over the horizon with the French flag flying off its top mast after the war is finished and the colonists have won. Americans believe that cr@p. Idiots.

[vogie]

9 minutes ago, Roadman said:

I notice that too. And you can add the ridiculous statement from some Americans if it wasn't for them then the French would be speaking German but conveniently forget if it wasn't for the French they would be speaking English...the pure British form 

Are you saying without the French the Americans would be speaking english with an english accent, why?