‘Common decency would have been appropriate’: French government criticises Trump for his stinging attack on Macron on the anniversary of the Bataclan massacre of 130 people
- French spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said Trump needed ‘common decency’
- Trump hit out at Macron on Tuesday saying ‘Make France Great Again’ on Twitter
- The reason behind the outburst may have been Macrons European army idea
France’s government has fired back at a flurry of critical tweets by Donald Trump, suggesting the US president lacked ‘common decency’ by launching his broadside on a day when France was mourning victims of the November 2015 terror attacks.
Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said on Wednesday: ‘We were commemorating the assassination of 130 of our compatriots three years ago in Paris and Saint-Denis, and so I will reply in English: ‘Common decency’ would have been appropriate.’
Nursing grievances from a weekend visit to France, Mr Trump hit out at France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday over his suggestion for a European defence force, over French tariffs on US wine and even Mr Macron’s approval ratings.
Trump and Macron’s spat marks a significant falling-out for the two world leaders, who had shared a cordial friendship despite their differing views
Trump pictured with President Macron and Vladimir Putin at Armistice Day commemorations in Paris on Sunday
The tweets underscored tensions between the once-friendly leaders and displayed Mr Trump’s irritation over criticism of how he acted in France.
Trump derided Macron’s proposed ‘European army’ in tweets – bringing up German military aggression in World War I and World War II as he accused the French president of turning on him to boost his own popularity ratings.
The dispute among friends boiled over into a full-blown diplomatic conflict, with Trump venting about the tax treatment of American-made versus French wine and complaining about the the existing NATO alliance.
‘Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two – How did that work out for France?’ he asked. ‘They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!’
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The president accused the French president of trying to change the subject and Trump called to ‘make France great again’ in the midst of his Twitter attack
Trump derided key U.S. allies after returning to the United States from Paris, where he joined Macron, Merkel and other world leaders for a ceremony marking the centennial of the armistice that ended World War I.
He said they were ‘starting to learn German in Paris’ during the Nazi occupation in the Second World War ‘before the U.S. came along’ and saved the day.
‘The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%. He was just trying to get onto another subject,’ Trump said in the stunning appraisal of the leader he had praised as a friend three days prior.
‘By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!’ he said in a rage on Twitter. ‘MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!’
The French government spokesperson said Trump comments were inappropriate as France is currently observing the Bataclan theater attack anniversary
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (center left) and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo (center right) walk to the bar ‘La Bonne Biere’ in Paris during a ceremony on Tuesday to mark three years since terror attacks in Paris left 130 people dead
A woman touches the commemorative plaque at the entrance of the Bataclan in Paris on Tuesday during a ceremony held for the victims of the 2015 attack
Meanwhile Angela Merkel called for the creation of a ‘real, true’ European army during a speech to EU ministers on Tuesday in a further rebuke to Trump.
The German Chancellor also called for a European Security Council that would be responsible for coordinating defence policy across the continent.
Merkel spoke out after French President Emmanuel Macron floated the same idea last week, and hours after Donald Trump lambasted him for it on Twitter.
In her speech, which was about the future of the EU, Merkel said: ‘What is really important, if we look at the developments of the past year, is that we have to work on a vision of one day creating a real, true European army.
She said the new army would work in conjunction with NATO, but added that ‘only a stronger Europe is going to defend Europe.’
Angela Merkel called for the creation of a European army and Security Council during a speech to ministers in Strasbourg on Tuesday
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