Emmanuel Macron said he is ready to work with Donald Trump if the former president wins the US election.
This comes just one day after Trump’s record-breaking win in the Iowa caucuses.
“I have always had the same philosophy, I accept the leaders that the people put in front of me,” the French President told a press conference on Tuesday.
The President added the following:
The United States is an important ally… A democracy that is going through a crisis where its first priority is itself and the second priority is the power of China. We Europeans have to be clear about this.
The French President has previously argued that the US interest in preserving global order has waned under Trump. In 2019, Macron described the transatlantic military alliance as “brain-dead”, citing declining US support for NATO.
The former US President called Macron’s comments “outrageous” and “insulting”.
Trump has previously described Europe as an “enemy” that is “almost as bad as China” and hinted that he might withdraw from the alliance if its terms are not changed to suit the United States.
Macron initially saw Trump as a “friend” and even extended invitations to him, such as dining at the Eiffel Tower on Bastille Day, but his relationship with the former president soured over time due to disagreements on climate, taxation and Iran.
Trade disputes, including France’s new technology tax, deepened the rift as tensions escalated over issues related to Turkey, Syria and Russia.
On the other hand, Trump, the only current or former US President to face criminal charges, triumphed by an unprecedented margin in the Republican battle for Iowa.
Justin Trudeau said it would “not be easy” for Canada if Trump is re-elected US president.
The Canadian Prime Minister’s remarks on Tuesday echo the concerns of European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, who previously warned that the former president’s re-election would be a threat to Europe.
Agencies were also utilized
