Macron interrupts Trump: French President Emmanuel Macron interrupted US President Donald Trump when Trump was addressing a question on Ukraine as both leaders were holding a joint press briefing on Monday. Trump claimed that Europe was only providing loans to Ukraine and that it would get the money back. Macron reportedly fact-checked Trump as he said, “No, in fact. To be frank, we paid. We paid 60 per cent of the total effort.”
Macron, as he touched Trump’s arm to stop him, noted, “It was, like the US, loans, guarantees, grants, and we provided real money, to be clear.” Trump then quipped, “If you believe that, it’s okay with me.”
In his meeting with Macron, Trump expressed hope that Russia’s war in Ukraine is nearing an endgame as he met Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron on the third anniversary of the invasion. However, France’s leader cautioned that any potential agreement with Moscow mustn’t amount to surrender for Ukraine.
Earlier, Trump welcomed Macron to the White House for talks on Monday amidst deep uncertainty about the future of transatlantic relations, with Trump transforming American foreign policy and effectively tuning out European leadership as he looks to quickly end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The two leaders were starting their day by taking part in a virtual meeting with fellow leaders of the Group of Seven economies to discuss the war.
Trump also has made demands for territory – Greenland, Canada, Gaza and the Panama Canal – as well as precious rare earth minerals from Ukraine.
Just over a month into his second term, the “America First” president has cast an enormous shadow over what veteran US diplomats and former government officials had regarded as America’s calming presence of global stability and continuity.
Despite some notable hiccups, the military, economic and moral power of the United States has dominated the post-World War II era, most notably after the Cold War came to an end with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
All of that, some fear, may be lost if Trump gets his way and the US abandons the principles under which the United Nations and numerous other international bodies were founded.
(With inputs from AP)
