As relationship sours, Macron tells Trump France is not vassal of US
PARIS, Nov 14 (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday told Donald Trump that France was the United States' ally and not a vassal state after the U.S. president attacked him in a series of tweets that demonstrated how much their relationship had soured.
In five posts sent on Tuesday after a visit to Paris to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, Trump reminded France of its near-defeat by Germany in two wars, took a swipe at its wine industry, and mentioned Macron's falling approval ratings.
Trump had earlier criticized Macron's suggestion that a European army was needed, in part, to reduce reliance on the U.S. military.
Asked in an interview on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier whether he was offended by Trump's tweets, Macron talked at length about the long military alliance between the two countries, from America's War of Independence onwards.
"At every moment of our history, we were allies, so between allies, respect is due," Macron told TF1 television.
"I don't think the French expect me to respond to tweets but to continue this important history," he added.
When pressed, Macron dismissed Trump's comments as an attempt to play to a domestic audience, in the wake of Trump's losses in mid-terms elections.
"I think he's playing politics, and I let him play American politics."
But asked whether there was a deeper misunderstanding between the two countries after Macron's comments about a European army infuriated Trump, Macron said being a U.S. ally did not mean being subservient.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/as-relationship-sours-macron-tells-trump-france-is-not-vassal-of-us/ar-BBPIgsW?li=BBnbcA1