Donald Trump blasts Emmanuel Macron for describing Nato as ‘brain dead’
US president says Macron’s statement was ‘very insulting’ and ‘dangerous’
Donald Trump has bitten back at Emmanuel Macron after the French president described Nato as “brain dead”.
On day one of a two-day Nato meeting, the US president said Macron’s remark was insulting and a “very, very nasty statement” that showed he was trying to break away from Nato.
Trump said: “Nato serves a great purpose. I think that’s very insulting. Nobody needs Nato more than France. It’s a very dangerous statement for them to make.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Warming to his theme, he went on to slam Macron’s domestic woes. “I think they have a very high unemployment rate in France,” he said. “France is not doing well economically at all.
“They have had a very rough year. You just can’t go around making statements like that about Nato. It is very disrespectful. I’m looking at him [Macron] and I’m saying that he needs protection more than anybody, and I see him breaking off [from Nato]. So I’m a little surprised at that.”
Macron had rattled Trump during an interview with The Economist. The French president expressed frustration that Turkey, a Nato member, had entered northern Syria in October without consulting any Nato partner apart from the US.
Although Trump expressed annoyance at the comment, The Guardian points out that his defence of Nato sees him “discarding the fact he himself has described Nato as obsolete on previous occasions”.
Later, Trump and Macron appeared in front of the media together, in a news conference described as “tense” by CNN.
Macron refused to back down on his remarks about Nato, saying: “I know that my statements created some reaction. I do stand by [them].”
He then corrected the US president about the number of Islamic State fighters with European backgrounds after Trump asked if Paris was willing to take back French terrorists captured in Syria and Iraq.
“Let's be serious: The very large numbers of fighters you have on the ground are the fighters coming from Syria, from Iraq and the region,” Macron said. CNN's reporter Daniel Dale tweeted that this statement meant: “Macron fact checked Trump to his face.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Cicada-geddon: the fungus that controls insects like 'zombies'
Under The Radar Expert says bugs will develop 'hypersexualisation' despite their genitals falling off
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Gaza war tearing US university campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Who will win the 2024 presidential election?
In Depth Election year is here. Who are pollsters and experts predicting to win the White House?
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
National Enquirer helped Trump in 2016, ex-boss says
Speed Read David Pecker says the tabloid published fabricated content to hurt Trump's rivals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sitting in judgment on Trump
Opinion Who'd want to be on this jury?
By Susan Caskie Published
-
How could the Supreme Court's Fischer v. US case impact the other Jan 6. trials including Trump's?
Today's Big Question A former Pennsylvania cop might hold the key to a major upheaval in how the courts treat the Capitol riot — and its alleged instigator
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Good riddance to the televised presidential debate'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published