As relationship sours, Macron tells Trump France is not vassal of US

By Michel Rose

 

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump after a meeting at the Elysee Palace 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/File Photo

 

PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday told Donald Trump that France was the United States' ally and not a vassal state after the U.S. president attacked him in a series of tweets that demonstrated how much their relationship had soured.

 

In five posts sent on Tuesday after a visit to Paris to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, Trump reminded France of its near-defeat by Germany in two wars, took a swipe at its wine industry, and mentioned Macron's falling approval ratings.

 

Trump had earlier criticised Macron's suggestion that a European army was needed, in part, to reduce reliance on the U.S. military.

 

Asked in an interview on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier whether he was offended by Trump's tweets,Macron talked at length about the long military alliance between the two countries, from America's War of Independence onwards.

 

"At every moment of our history, we were allies, so between allies, respect is due," Macron told TF1 television.

 

"I don't think the French expect me to respond to tweets but to continue this important history," he added.

 

When pressed, Macron dismissed Trump's comments as an attempt to play to a domestic audience, in the wake of Trump's losses in mid-terms elections.

 

"I think he's playing politics, and I let him play American politics."

 

But asked whether there was a deeper misunderstanding between the two countries after Macron's comments about a European army infuriated Trump, Macron said being a U.S. ally did not mean being subservient.

 

"The United States are our historic ally and will continue to be. It's the ally with which we take all the risks, with which we carry out the most complicated operations. But being an ally doesn't mean being a vassal state," Macron said.

 

The public dispute was in sharp contrast with the friendly tone that had been a hallmark of the relationship between the ex-banker and the former real estate developer since Macron was elected in 2017.

 

After being invited to Paris to attend the Bastille Day military parade in July last year and receiving Macronand his wife for a state visit in Washington in January, Trump had praised Macron as a "great guy" and "a friend of mine".

 

Macron had struggled to convert the 'bonhomie' into influence. Trump and Macron disagreed on many international issues, including the Paris climate accord, the Iran nuclear deal or Trump's decision to slap tariffs on European metals exports.

 

But the personal rhetoric between the two men had always been friendly, in contrast with previous Franco-American disputes when French-bashing was sometimes on full display, such as during the war in Iraq that France opposed.

 

Although Macron's response was restrained on Wednesday, his government spokesman showed Trump's criticism had struck a chord.

 

When asked earlier about Trump's tweets, French government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said they were posted on the day France was mourning the anniversary of militant attacks in Paris.

 

"Yesterday was November 13, we were marking the murder of 130 of our people," Griveaux said. "So I'll reply in English: 'common decency' would have been appropriate."

 

(Reporting by Michel Rose; Editing by John Irish and Marie-Louise Gumuchian)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-11-15

Macron has class.

 

"trump" is an ass.

 

Expecting common decency from Agent Orange is a non-starter.

 

Next … 

40 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Macron has class.

 

"trump" is an ass.

 

Expecting common decency from Agent Orange is a non-starter.

 

Next … 

Trump has a lot of class too .....
 ...... it is all low, but he has a lot of it.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

But being an ally doesn't mean being a vassal state," Macron said.

the fact that he said it and it is in his thinking means there are truthful elements to it

https://www.mediaite.com/online/trump-reportedly-berated-theresa-may-in-phone-call-on-air-force-one/

 

Trump really is a lout.

 

He just doesn't know how to behave.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Macron has class.

 

"trump" is an ass.

 

Expecting common decency from Agent Orange is a non-starter.

 

Next … 

News says that Trump is in a crap mood this week. He is not accustomed to people standing up to him with words such as Macron spoke (not a vassal state).

And despite what he claims, mid term elections were not a great success.

And news of Kim (Rocket Man) continuing with his nuclear program surely must piss him off.

And

And

And

Such is the cost of being an "isolationist".

Vlad’s plan of splitting allies coming together nicely thanks to his puppet, Captain Bonespurs..

It's good that at least some people stand up against that moron from time to time.

But I don't have much hope that the rednecks will change their mind because of some french guy - they will support Trump even more after this.

I do not envy aide who had to explain what "vassal state" means in simple English. Hope he or she had colorful pictures

Macron's popularity ratings are quite low, so I guess he is trying to gain a few points with a "Gaullian" stand against the big ugly bully state.

Ruling France is an impossible task..

Sour grapes make for a bitter whine.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/five-days-of-fury-inside-trumps-paris-temper-election-woes-and-staff-upheaval/2018/11/13/e90b7cba-e69e-11e8-a939-9469f1166f9d_story.html?utm_term=.61742d9f0507

The good news is he stopped short of hop it????

2 hours ago, YetAnother said:

the fact that he said it and it is in his thinking means there are truthful elements to it

Trump thinks he rules the world and he doesnt. His arrogant attitude is doing very little except ostracize countries that were the US's allies. Eventually no one, if he continues, will want to have anything to do with the USA and that is sad but he is going along the path to self destruction.

You would think the people around him would put pressure to keep things smooth but obviously they have little interest in the country just thinking about themselves

32 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Let me guess.

 

Secondary Modern.

Ah, the master of perpetual confusion dares to expose what laughably passes for a mind, not to mention his class consciousness.  Never mind: allow me, too, to guess why confusion reigns chez la tete de Chompère:

 

erm... failed the 11 plus?

1 hour ago, Emster23 said:

I do not envy aide who had to explain what "vassal state" means in simple English. Hope he or she had colorful pictures

A map of Puerto Rico might do for POTUS. Or a map of any of the French vassal states left in the world.

Just now, animalmagic said:

It took many countries, including many non Anglo-Saxon ones such as Philippines, India, China and several African countries to name but a few, to protect the world.  It just so happens that many battles were fought in France.

I do apologise to the many thousands of Americans of colour and African descent, and the Native Americans who also proudly served during WWII for not mentioning them.  I note that some were awarded the highest honours of Medal of Honour and Navy Cross for their bravery.

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It's good that at least some people stand up against that moron from time to time.

But I don't have much hope that the rednecks will change their mind because of some french guy - they will support Trump even more after this.

His base of hate-filled inbred hillbillies will not stop believing/supporting him no matter what happens.  I've seen these people up close and personal.  Last year, I made 6 job-related trips to Nebraska.  There are a lot of these characters, far more than I ever dreamed could exist.  Some of them seem semi-intelligent, but their racism and hatred blinds them to what others can clearly see. 

Right now nothing is going right for trump,so he becomes petulant,hardly an endearing quality for a world leader.

the outcome if things dont improve for him could be the warmongers in the WH will goad him into a war.

Nothing good comes out of Washington these days.

To all proud French men and women Donald is a pig he has no understanding of history he is temporary he won’t last much longer

1 hour ago, animalmagic said:

It took many countries, including many non Anglo-Saxon ones such as Philippines, India, China and several African countries to name but a few, to protect the world.  It just so happens that many battles were fought in France.

 

They were called "World Wars" for good reasons. Some "allies" in WW1 became enemies in WW11.

 

France suffered badly. Northern France was a battle ground in WW1 and France collapsed and surrendered to the Nazis in WW11. 

 

Had it not been for many others, but predominantly Britain, Russia/USSR,and then the US, France would not be an independent country today and nor would many other European nations.

 

Unfortunately, that fact seems to irritate some of those nations who are no longer grateful for the sacrifices made but seem almost resentful. 

6 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

Had it not been for many others, but predominantly Britain, Russia/USSR,and then the US, France would not be an independent country today and nor would many other European nations.

I always find the bold underlined portion above a really weird statement that you hear all the time.

 

France and many other European nations would not have been independent countries at the conclusion of WWII if the Nazis won. But...

 

Does anyone really believe that nothing could happen in the intervening 73-ish years that may have changed that? Why does anyone think that the world wouldn’t continue to rebel against Nazis even if they won the war?

 

Strange, stagnant view of humanity.

Edited November 15, 20187 yr by metisdead
Please do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes or wording.

Just now, Baerboxer said:

Had it not been for many others, but predominantly Britain, Russia/USSR,and then the US, France would not be an independent country today and nor would many other European nations.

 

Unfortunately, that fact seems to irritate some of those nations who are no longer grateful for the sacrifices made but seem almost resentful. 

Had the Allies lost there is no guarantee that the US would be an independent nation.  If the rest of the world, containing most of the natural resources necessary at the time had come under Axis control then it would have been impossible for the US to thrive.

Sacrifices were made for the both the greater good and national interests to varying extents.  Every country is grateful for the sacrifices of others to help restore the freedoms they enjoy now.  As mentioned earlier by another poster, perhaps the US should be grateful for the efforts of France to ensure the US is a free and independent country.

29 minutes ago, mikebike said:

I always find the bold underlined portion above a really weird statement that you hear all the time.

 

France and many other European nations would not have been independent countries at the conclusion of WWII if the Nazis won. But...

 

Does anyone really believe that nothing could happen in the intervening 73-ish years that may have changed that? Why does anyone think that the world wouldn’t continue to rebel against Nazis even if they won the war?

 

Strange, stagnant view of humanity.

Also, this always implies, that the USA joined WW2 out of the goodness of their hearts and because they are such good and lovely people.

Nothing at all to do with their own interests, at all!

 

37 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

It took America two world wars to understand that its national security doesn't start at its borders. Rather its security must become globalized.

Now America has a President that characterizes national security as a bunker along the nation's borders.

 

Ironically, it was those same rotten frogs who safe guarded americas borders, allowing the formation of the US of A, way back in the beginning.

 

if not for the French, Americans would probably still spell colour correctly.

1 hour ago, Baerboxer said:

 

They were called "World Wars" for good reasons. Some "allies" in WW1 became enemies in WW11.

 

France suffered badly. Northern France was a battle ground in WW1 and France collapsed and surrendered to the Nazis in WW11. 

 

Had it not been for many others, but predominantly Britain, Russia/USSR,and then the US, France would not be an independent country today and nor would many other European nations.

 

Unfortunately, that fact seems to irritate some of those nations who are no longer grateful for the sacrifices made but seem almost resentful. 

I find a lot of Americans view point on the world wars very odd considering the facts surrounding it. The US joined WW1 in April 1917, nearly 3 years after it started and 18 months before it finished. They joined WW2 in 1942, a full 2.5 years after it started and only then because Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.

There is no disputing that they turned the tide in both wars, but this idea of Americas charging in on a white horse to save the day is belittling to the contributions of all other nations that sacrificed so much and doesn't highlight the self interest that the US showed in both wars. If you want to thank someone for saving France then it should start with Britain for being the only country to effectively stand up to the Nazis and also Russia with their 18 million dead. 

I'll repeat; I'm not castigating America for their invaluable contribution to both wars but this idea it was ALL America and everyone should be eternally grateful is disingenuous at best, downright insulting at worst.     

3 hours ago, kamahele said:

Um, Trump should also remember that without the support of the French during the American revolution, there might not be a United States. 

Just one massive Canada ????

Its interesting that the syncophants are happy to see their messiah insult anybody he fancies . However when his tantrums are responded to, albeit usually in a far more eloquent and polite manner , they get all hissy.....lap dogs indeed !

4 hours ago, kamahele said:

Um, Trump should also remember that without the support of the French during the American revolution, there might not be a United States. 

That support was based on French nationalism, not altruism. But thanks anyway. It was a two edged sword for the Bourbons and Hapsburgs too.

19 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

That support was based on French nationalism, not altruism. But thanks anyway. It was a two edged sword for the Bourbons and Hapsburgs too.

I think that IS the point. Neither French participation in the American Revolution nor US participation in the great wars was altruistic.

12 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

That support was based on French nationalism, not altruism. But thanks anyway. It was a two edged sword for the Bourbons and Hapsburgs too.

If it weren't for France as a Global Power and at war against the Global Power Britain, its navy in the Caribbean wouldn't have been dispatched to nonstrategic (from the French perspective) Yorktown to blockade and prevent resupply/reinforcement of British-held Yorktown whose British army eventually surrendered to Washington's Army.