Emmanuel Macron has sharply criticised US President Donald Trump following a public mocking of the French leader over a widely circulated video in which his wife, Brigitte Macron, appeared to shove him in the face.
In a prime-time address to the American people on Wednesday night, Mr Trump referenced the 2025 incident, claiming that Mrs Macron had treated her husband “extremely badly” and that the French president was “still recovering from the right to the jaw”. The remarks came as Mr Trump pressed 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.
Mr Macron, speaking to reporters during a state visit to South Korea, described the comments as “not elegant, nor up to standard”. He refused to engage further with the personal jibe, stating it did not deserve a response, and instead called for de-escalation, a ceasefire, and the resumption of diplomatic negotiations in the Middle East.
The French president also dismissed Washington’s calls for European military intervention in the Strait of Hormuz as “unrealistic”. He said: “It is not our operation,” criticising 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 are not being helped in an operation they decided on alone.”
Mr Macron accused Mr Trump of repeatedly contradicting himself on Iran policy and warned that targeted military action alone would not resolve Tehran’s nuclear programme. Only “in-depth negotiations” involving diplomatic and technical frameworks could provide a lasting solution, he argued, cautioning that without such measures the situation could deteriorate again within months or years.
During his speech, Mr Trump claimed he had personally asked Mr Macron to send French warships to the Gulf “immediately”, but the French leader had reportedly offered assistance only “once 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 used the address to declare that “the hard part is done” and that he was “very close” to ending the war, while urging European allies to “build up some delayed courage” and take the lead in reopening the waterway, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil passes.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Trump told The Telegraph that NATO had become a “paper tiger” and suggested he was reconsidering American membership of the alliance after allies rejected his demands 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 joined the criticism, linking Mr Trump’s threats to withdraw from NATO, potential easing of sanctions on Russia, and reported pressure on Europe to enter the conflict with what he described as “Putin’s dream plan”. He pointed to soaring energy costs across Europe and concerns over continued support for Ukraine.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, described NATO as a “hostile alliance” but offered that Russia stood ready to assist Mr Trump in ending the war with Tehran.
Mr Trump’s address failed to calm financial markets, which fell further amid the uncertainty. Iran responded defiantly, firing additional missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states on Thursday morning and warning of more “crushing” attacks. Telegraph analysis indicated that Iranian strikes have stabilised at a concerning level, with US and Israeli forces unable to fully suppress them.
The war, now in its second month, continues to escalate tensions within the Western alliance. While Mr Trump insists the conflict is nearing its conclusion, European leaders like Mr Macron emphasise the need for coordinated diplomacy over unilateral military decisions.
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