U.S. President Donald Trump publicly mocked French President Emmanuel Macron, saying Macron is "abused by his wife." The remarks are interpreted as expressing frustration with France's reluctance to support the U.S. military campaign against Iran.
According to French daily Le Parisien and other outlets, Trump made the mocking remarks about the Macrons during an Easter luncheon at the White House on Tuesday. "I called Macron of France, who is abused by his wife," Trump said. "He was still recovering from being hit in the chin." The comments drew laughter from the audience.
Trump's reference to "abuse" appears to point to an incident last May when Macron was seen being shoved in the face by his wife Brigitte before disembarking from the presidential plane during a visit to Vietnam. At the time, Macron explained the situation as "joking around with my wife," and the Élysée Palace also described it as "an intimate moment between the two."
Trump went on to say that he had asked Macron, "We're setting records, we're taking out the bad guys and shooting down ballistic missiles, but we still need help. Can you send ships immediately if possible?" He said Macron replied that it would only be possible "after the war is over." Trump said he responded, "We don't need it after the war is over," adding that the episode taught him something "about NATO."
Earlier the same day, in an interview with British daily The Telegraph, Trump also expressed frustration with allies regarding whether the U.S. would maintain its NATO membership after the Iran conflict. "Yes. I would say we are past the point of reconsidering," he said.
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