Trump trolls Macron over approval ratings, unemployment, the Nazi occupation and wine
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched a volley of sarcastic and angry tweets aimed at settling a few scores with French president Emmanuel Macron after his recent visit to Paris. Trump chided his French counterpart over his low approval ratings and France's "unfair" wine tariffs.
Just two days after meeting Macron in Paris along with other world leaders Donald Trump ridiculed the French president for his low approval rating at home as well as France's high unemployment rate.
Trump also launched on attack on the French president over this call for a European army, a proposal the US leader earlier had dubbed "insulting."
Trump suggested Macron might have been trying to divert attention from his low popularity ratings and problems at home.
"The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%," Trump said.
"He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!" He then tweeted: "MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN" in capital letters.
The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%. He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!........
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
Trump also blasted Emmanuel Macron over the French president's call for a European army, a proposal the US leader earlier had dubbed "insulting."
He sarcastically pointed to Germany's occupation of France during World War Two to suggest France will always need the US army "to do the work".
READ ALSO: Image of Donald Trump improves among French people
"Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the US, China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France?" Trump tweeted.
"They were starting to learn German in Paris before the US came along," Trump said. "Pay for NATO or not!"
Not long after rump had clicked the send button on his tweets German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a "real and true" European army.
Trump also responded to the fierce criticism about his failure to turn up for the memorial service in northern France on Saturday to honour fallen American soldiers. The reason given at the time was "bad weather".
Trump claimed that there was "almost zero visibility" which grounded the helicopter and that he himself suggested driving, but was told it was impossible by secret services.
He criticized the media for not reporting his speech at an American cemetery on Sunday in the pouring rain.
By the way, when the helicopter couldn’t fly to the first cemetery in France because of almost zero visibility, I suggested driving. Secret Service said NO, too far from airport & big Paris shutdown. Speech next day at American Cemetary in pouring rain! Little reported-Fake News!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
On Monday the French army appeared to troll Trump by posting a picture of soldiers training in the rain. "It's raining, but it doesn't matter. We are still motivated," read the tweet.
#MondayMotivation Il y a de la pluie, mais c'est pas grave ? On reste motivé ? pic.twitter.com/29hOJ9ITF0
— Armée de Terre (@armeedeterre) November 12, 2018
In another tweet the American president also rebuked France for its high tariffs on wine imported from the US.
On Trade, France makes excellent wine, but so does the U.S. The problem is that France makes it very hard for the U.S. to sell its wines into France, and charges big Tariffs, whereas the U.S. makes it easy for French wines, and charges very small Tariffs. Not fair, must change!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
Emmanuel Macron's office said Tuesday that it would not comment on a flurry of angry tweets from US President Donald Trump
about his French counterpart.
"We are not making any comment," the presidency said.
The Republican president has repeatedly lambasted European allies for not spending enough on their militaries, particularly Germany.
Macron had angered Trump by saying Europe needed its own army and listing the US along with Russia and China as a threat to European security.
One of dozens of world leaders attending World War I commemorations in France this weekend, Trump tweeted after landing in Paris that Macron's call for a "real European army" was "insulting."
In an interview recorded on Saturday with CNN after talks with Trump, Macron said the two leaders had spoken about what his office has portrayed as a misunderstanding.
READ ALSO: Macron's attack on Trump's nationalism was welcome buy mat prove unwise
Both leaders agree there should be "better burden-sharing within NATO," meaning Europe should be less reliant on US spending for its defense, Macron said.
But Macron told CNN: "To be very direct with you, what I don't want to see is European countries increasing the budget in defense in order to buy American and other arms or materials coming from your industry."
US officials have stressed that Washington is fully committed to the NATO alliance despite Trump's comments.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg meanwhile has welcomed stronger EU efforts on defense that could strengthen the alliance -- but warned against duplicating its work while potentially undermining transatlantic ties.
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Just two days after meeting Macron in Paris along with other world leaders Donald Trump ridiculed the French president for his low approval rating at home as well as France's high unemployment rate.
Trump also launched on attack on the French president over this call for a European army, a proposal the US leader earlier had dubbed "insulting."
Trump suggested Macron might have been trying to divert attention from his low popularity ratings and problems at home.
"The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%," Trump said.
"He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!" He then tweeted: "MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN" in capital letters.
The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%. He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!........
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
Trump also blasted Emmanuel Macron over the French president's call for a European army, a proposal the US leader earlier had dubbed "insulting."
He sarcastically pointed to Germany's occupation of France during World War Two to suggest France will always need the US army "to do the work".
READ ALSO: Image of Donald Trump improves among French people
"Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the US, China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France?" Trump tweeted.
"They were starting to learn German in Paris before the US came along," Trump said. "Pay for NATO or not!"
Not long after rump had clicked the send button on his tweets German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a "real and true" European army.
Trump also responded to the fierce criticism about his failure to turn up for the memorial service in northern France on Saturday to honour fallen American soldiers. The reason given at the time was "bad weather".
Trump claimed that there was "almost zero visibility" which grounded the helicopter and that he himself suggested driving, but was told it was impossible by secret services.
He criticized the media for not reporting his speech at an American cemetery on Sunday in the pouring rain.
By the way, when the helicopter couldn’t fly to the first cemetery in France because of almost zero visibility, I suggested driving. Secret Service said NO, too far from airport & big Paris shutdown. Speech next day at American Cemetary in pouring rain! Little reported-Fake News!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
On Monday the French army appeared to troll Trump by posting a picture of soldiers training in the rain. "It's raining, but it doesn't matter. We are still motivated," read the tweet.
#MondayMotivation Il y a de la pluie, mais c'est pas grave ? On reste motivé ? pic.twitter.com/29hOJ9ITF0
— Armée de Terre (@armeedeterre) November 12, 2018
In another tweet the American president also rebuked France for its high tariffs on wine imported from the US.
On Trade, France makes excellent wine, but so does the U.S. The problem is that France makes it very hard for the U.S. to sell its wines into France, and charges big Tariffs, whereas the U.S. makes it easy for French wines, and charges very small Tariffs. Not fair, must change!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
Emmanuel Macron's office said Tuesday that it would not comment on a flurry of angry tweets from US President Donald Trump
about his French counterpart.
"We are not making any comment," the presidency said.
The Republican president has repeatedly lambasted European allies for not spending enough on their militaries, particularly Germany.
Macron had angered Trump by saying Europe needed its own army and listing the US along with Russia and China as a threat to European security.
One of dozens of world leaders attending World War I commemorations in France this weekend, Trump tweeted after landing in Paris that Macron's call for a "real European army" was "insulting."
In an interview recorded on Saturday with CNN after talks with Trump, Macron said the two leaders had spoken about what his office has portrayed as a misunderstanding.
READ ALSO: Macron's attack on Trump's nationalism was welcome buy mat prove unwise
Both leaders agree there should be "better burden-sharing within NATO," meaning Europe should be less reliant on US spending for its defense, Macron said.
But Macron told CNN: "To be very direct with you, what I don't want to see is European countries increasing the budget in defense in order to buy American and other arms or materials coming from your industry."
US officials have stressed that Washington is fully committed to the NATO alliance despite Trump's comments.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg meanwhile has welcomed stronger EU efforts on defense that could strengthen the alliance -- but warned against duplicating its work while potentially undermining transatlantic ties.
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