By Adesakin Adefemi
The US President’s latest controversy has sparked outrage in France, with politicians from across the spectrum condemning his comments about French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte.
Donald Trump mocked Macron’s relationship with his wife, saying she “treats him extremely badly” and referencing a 2025 video that appeared to show Brigitte shoving Macron’s face. The video was later debunked as disinformation.
Trump’s comments, made during a private lunch and posted on the White House YouTube channel, have been widely criticized in France. Yael Braun-Pivet, president of France’s lower house of parliament, said Trump’s remarks were “not up to par”.
Even Macron’s critics have rushed to his defense. Manuel Bompard of the hard-left France Unbowed party called Trump’s comments “absolutely unacceptable”. Conservative daily Le Figaro described it as “another controversial outburst from Donald Trump”.
The spat comes as tensions simmer between the US and France over NATO and Iran. Trump has been vocal about NATO allies not doing enough, calling it a “paper tiger”.
In the video, Trump mimicked Macron’s French accent, saying “No no no, we cannot do that, Donald” when asked for help in the Gulf. Macron has previously denied any “domestic dispute” with his wife, saying they were “joking as we often do”.
The French government has yet to officially respond to Trump’s comments. Meanwhile, Trump’s top officials continue to ruffle feathers, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying the US will “reexamine” its NATO relationship post-Iran war.
The incident highlights the strained relations between the US and France, with Trump’s remarks sparking concerns about diplomacy and respect for international partners.
As the controversy unfolds, one thing is clear: Trump’s comments have added fuel to the fire of US-France tensions, and the fallout is likely to continue.
