Two long-time allies like France and the U.S. should treat each other with respect, but France is a U.S. ally, not a vassal state, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
In five posts after his visit to France, U.S. President Donald Trump blasted France over its near defeat to Germany in two world wars, its wine industry and Macron’s approval ratings.
"At every moment of our history, we were allies, so between allies, respect is due," the French leader said, citing French support for America’s war of independence and U.S. support during the two world wars.
"I don’t think the French expect me to respond to tweets but to continue this important history," Macron told TF1, adding that Trump was only playing to a domestic audience.
"I think he’s playing politics, and I let him play politics," Reuters cited him as saying.
Asked about his suggestion to build an European army, which Trump criticized in tweets last week, Macron said: "The United States are our historic ally and will continue to be. It’s the ally with which we take all the risks, with which we carry out the most complicated operations. But being an ally doesn’t mean being a vassal state."
