Macron issues brutal six-word reply after Donald Trump’s savage insult | World | News
Emmanuel Macron has harshly criticized US President Donald Trump after a video of his wife Brigitte Macron hitting him in the face publicly mocked the French leader.
In his address to the American people on Wednesday night, Mr. Trump, referring to the 2025 incident, claimed that Mrs. Macron had treated her husband “extremely badly” and that the French president’s “chin right is still recovering.” The remarks come as Mr. Trump pressures NATO allies to take a more active role in the ongoing conflict with Iran, particularly in efforts to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to reporters during a state visit to South Korea, Mr Macron described the comments as “non-graceful or non-standard”. He refused to engage further in the personal fight, stating that it did not deserve a response, and instead called for de-escalation, a ceasefire and the resumption of diplomatic talks in the Middle East.
The French president also rejected Washington’s calls for European military intervention in the Strait of Hormuz as “unrealistic”. He said: “It is not our operation,” criticizing the US and Israel for launching the war on February 28 without consulting their allies, only to later complain about a lack of support. He added: “They then complain that they were not assisted in an operation they decided on alone.”
Mr. Macron accused Mr. Trump of repeatedly contradicting himself on Iran policy and warned that targeted military intervention alone would not solve Tehran’s nuclear program. He argued that only “in-depth negotiations” involving diplomatic and technical frameworks could deliver a lasting solution, and warned that the situation could deteriorate again within months or years unless such measures were taken.
During his speech, Mr Trump claimed he personally asked Mr Macron to send French warships to the Gulf “immediately”, but the French leader reportedly only offered assistance “after the war is won”. Mr. Trump responded dismissively: “No, no, I don’t need them when the war is over, Emmanuel.”
The US president also declared in that speech that “the hard part is done” and that we are “very close” to ending the war, while calling on his European allies to “summon some long-overdue courage” and lead the reopening of the waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Trump said: Telegram He said NATO had become a “paper tiger” and suggested America was reconsidering its membership in the alliance after its allies rejected requests for naval support. Mr Macron warned that such rhetoric risked undermining the transatlantic partnership that has underpinned European security since 1949.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also joined the criticism, linking Trump’s threats to withdraw from NATO to the possibility of easing sanctions against Russia and pressure on Europe to enter the conflict with what he described as “Putin’s dream plan.” He noted concerns about rising energy costs across Europe and continued support for Ukraine.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, described NATO as a “hostile alliance” but offered that Russia was ready to help Mr Trump in ending the war with Tehran.
Mr. Trump’s speech failed to calm financial markets, which fell further amid uncertainty. Iran responded defiantly on Thursday morning by firing additional missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states and warning of more “overwhelming” attacks. Telegram analysis indicated that Iranian attacks have stabilized at an alarming level, and that US and Israeli forces have not been able to fully suppress them.
The war, which has entered its second month, continues to increase tension within the Western alliance. While Mr Trump insists the conflict is nearing an end, European leaders such as Mr Macron are stressing the need for coordinated diplomacy over unilateral military decisions.
