Trump hits out at Macron days after France visit
American president Donald Trump has hit out at France and President Macron, criticising the idea of a European Army, denouncing Mr Macron鈥檚 approval rating, and calling French wine tariffs 鈥渘ot fair鈥�.
In a series of tweets, the US leader at the idea of a European army - which Mr Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel a good idea 鈥渙ne day鈥� - and demanded that France 鈥減ay for NATO鈥�.
The comments come just days after Mr Trump Palace in Paris on the occasion of the First World War Armistice 100 year commemorations, and called the French leader 鈥渁 good friend鈥�, with whom he shares 鈥渟imilar views鈥�.
Mr Trump also said: 鈥淲e want a strong Europe; it鈥檚 very important to us.鈥�
In a further tweet, the Mr Trump criticised Mr Macron鈥檚 鈥渓ow approval rating鈥� and said 鈥渢here is no country more Nationalist than France...rightfully so鈥�, in a reference to Mr Macron鈥檚 speech at the weekend on the difference between patriotism and nationalism.
Mr Macron had said 鈥渘ationalism is a betrayal of patriotism鈥� in his speech at the Arc de Triomphe on November 11.
In a separate tweet, Mr Trump admitted that 鈥淔rance makes excellent wine鈥�, but said that 鈥淔rance makes it very hard for the US to sell its wines in France鈥�.
He called French wine tariffs 鈥渘ot fair鈥� and said they 鈥渕ust change鈥�.
French commentators reacted with bemusement over the comments, with far-right politician Gilbert Collard Trump was 鈥渁bsolutely right鈥� to attack Mr Macron, but 鈥渁bsolutely wrong鈥� about French wine.
In , the 脡lys茅e said: 鈥淭he relationship between Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump is not always easy, but it does continue. The link between the two presidents exists. Beyond the tweets, what is most important is that they speak several times per week, and consider subjects that affect the world.鈥�
One tweet in response called on Mr Trump to 鈥済et a grip鈥�.
