Macron comments on calls with Trump

French President Emmanuel Macron said his phone calls with U.S. President Donald Trump and other world leaders were just like sausages: better not explain what's inside.

Borrowing a quote from 19th century Prussian statesman Otto von Bismarck, Macron summed up his policy of refraining from making off-the-record comments about his conversations with other world leaders.

"As Bismarck used to say, if we explained to people how sausages were made, it's unlikely they'd keep eating them," Macron said.

"So I like it when people see the finished meal, but I'm not convinced the kitchen commentary helps with delivering the meal or eating it," CNBC cited him as saying.

A readout from the French presidency of Macron's call with Trump last week said Macron told Trump that his decision to slap tariffs on the exports of U.S. allies were both "illegal" and a "mistake".

"Macron thought he would be able to speak his mind, based on the relationship. But Trump can't handle being criticised like that," CNN quoted a source as saying. "Just bad. It was terrible."