Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump, chapter 2. The billionaire, who will return to the White House in January 2025, already knew the French president between 2017 and 2021. He congratulated him on we knew how to do it for four years.” The French government assured that the United States “will remain our allies”.
After Donald Trump’s victory in the American presidential election, made official this Wednesday, November 6, the 78-year-old Republican will find Emmanuel Macron as his French counterpart. They had already known each other, during their functions, for three and a half years between May 2017 (election of the French president) and January 2021 (departure of the Republican from the White House).
Emmanuel Macron congratulated Donald Trump this Wednesday, on the social network X, saying he was “ready to work together as we have been able to do for four years”. “With your beliefs and with mine.”
While Donald Trump’s positions on NATO and the war in Ukraine worry Westerners, Emmanuel Macron then announced that he had spoken with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying he wanted to work jointly “for a more united, stronger Europe, more sovereign in this new context. “By cooperating with the United States of America and defending our interests and values.”
>> Donald Trump elected president of the United States: follow our live
No “blissful transatlanticism”, says the government
“He insisted on the fact that salvation would be neither in a blissful transatlanticism, nor in a narrow nationalism. France must speak (…) a strong voice in Europe for more sovereignty, to keep unity within of the European Union, to look after our interests, to protect our common borders”, indicated government spokesperson Maud Bregeon, following the Council of Ministers this Wednesday.
“We must consolidate our European strategy, our European coordination on the major challenges we face in terms of climate change, in terms of defense, in terms of ecology” as well as “trade, agriculture”, he said. -she completed.
Manly hugs and handshakes
Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron will therefore meet again, they who at the time liked to display good understanding, with handshakes supposed to be virile and above all endless.
But beyond appearances, relations between France and the United States have still experienced some upheavals, as recalled this Wednesday on RMC by Philippe Etienne, former French ambassador to the United States and diplomatic advisor to the president. French between 2017 and 2019.
“Ups and downs”
“Between Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump, there were ups and downs. Trump was someone who, to the rhythm of his tweets and his mood, blew hot and cold, depending on his own mood or the problems he faced”, he said, specifying however that the dialogue between the two men was never broken.
A weakened alliance between France and the United States? “In principle, it remains an ally. For us, it is an ally. The United States plays a role for our security and the security of our continent”, responded very cautiously Philippe Etienne, recalling that “Trump had , already in his first mandate, struggles with the notion of ally”. “It’s a transactional relationship, including with his allies. He has never been comfortable with NATO.”
“The United States are our allies and will remain so. The President of the Republic has a demanding relationship, obviously with President Trump,” assured Maud Bregeon.
On the future of Ukraine, at war with Russia, “regardless of the choices that the Americans make, the situation in Ukraine, the security of Ukrainians, the victory of Ukraine and therefore ultimately, our security cannot depend on any foreign power,” said the government spokesperson.
Emmanuel Macron mocked by Donald Trump on several occasions
During his campaign, the Republican did not spare Emmanuel Macron. In October, shortly before the election, Donald Trump claimed, during a meeting, to have “stopped wars with France”, alluding to the French digital tax targeting GAFA, adopted in July 2019. Donald Trump then threatened reprisals on imports of champagne, wine and Roquefort.
The former and now future President of the United States had already made fun of Emmanuel Macron in January 2024, again about this trade conflict, this time imitating the accent of the French president and boasting of negotiations to his advantage: “It was so easy,” he joked.
Also in October, Donald Trump estimated, in a podcast, that Emmanuel Macron was “an intelligent guy” who “would rob you if you weren’t careful”.
