U.S. President Donald Trump mocked French President Emmanuel Macron during a private dinner, making personal remarks about Macron and criticizing European allies, according to media reports.
Footage from the event, which was briefly published online before being removed, showed Trump questioning the reliability of NATO and expressing frustration over what he described as a lack of support from allies in the ongoing conflict with Iran. He reportedly called the alliance a “paper tiger" and suggested it might not stand by the United States in a major war.
During the same remarks, Trump took a personal jab at Macron, referencing a past viral incident involving the French president and his wife. He joked that Macron was “still recovering from a right hook to the jaw" and mocked his counterpart’s stance on military cooperation.
The comments sparked backlash in France, where political figures across the spectrum condemned the tone of the remarks as inappropriate,particularly given the broader geopolitical tensions.
Responding publicly, Macron dismissed the comments as “neither elegant nor appropriate" and said they did not merit a serious reply. He instead emphasized the need to focus on de-escalation efforts, including a ceasefire and renewed negotiations, amid the ongoing conflict.