United States President Donald Trump set a combative tone for a World War I commemorative visit to Paris on Saturday when he blasted calls by French President Emmanuel Macron for a European army to defend against threats from powers including the US.
No sooner had Trump touched down in Paris for a weekend of events to mark the end of WWI — including a meeting with Macron — than he fired off a tweet castigating his host over proposals to endow the European Union (EU) with its own, joint army.
“President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the US, China and Russia,” the US president tweeted late on Friday, referring to remarks made by Macron three days earlier.
“Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidises greatly!,” he added.
Later in the day, on meeting Macron, he assured that the US would “help” with European defense but repeated his insistence that nations on the continent pay their fair share.
Trump said that Macron “understands that the United States can only do so much”. But he also made clear that the US was not disengaging, declaring “we want to help”.
Macron has fashioned himself something of a “Trump whisperer” in Europe and has forged a close relationship with the president.
Their meeting on Saturday, however, included declarations of friendship but lacked their previous over-the-top displays of warmth.
