Trump hasn’t been shy about criticizing Europe’s handling of the war in Ukraine
Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron couldn’t exactly agree as the French president ended up correcting the POTUS in an awkward moment.
Donald Trump has had a lot to say about Ukraine regarding the country’s ongoing war with Russia in recent weeks.
Most controversially, earlier this week, Donald Trump called Ukrainian president, Volodymir Zelensky, a dictator. Zelensky responded by arguing that Trump was ‘living in a disinformation space’ governed by Moscow.
Despite the international tensions, leaders believe they are moving towards peace talks.
Most recently, Emmanuel Macron visited Washington for talks with the White House, and during a discussion with the press, the conversation moved to Ukraine.
In a CSpan video, Macron is seen being asked if the US should be compensated for the money it has given Ukraine, to which he replied that Ukraine must first be fully compensated for the war.
Trump argued that Europe is ‘loaning the money to Ukraine’ and would be ‘getting their money back’, something he doesn’t believe America will.
However, in a rather awkward moment, Macron corrected the President saying: “No, in fact. To be frank, we paid. We paid 60 per cent of the total effort.”
He said European nations provided ‘real money’ just like the US had, through a combination of ‘loans, guarantees and grants’.
Trump then fired back at a journalist “If you believe that, it’s okay with me.
“But they get their money back, we don’t, and now we do.”
Macron couldn’t help but interject: “In fact we both do.”
On social media, Trump took criticism for being corrected with many praising how Macron handled the situation.
On Twitter user said: “A memorable moment in contrasting leadership communication. It’s refreshing to see candid comments rather than meaningless platitudes or cautious timidity.”
Another said: “trump, embarrassed, ‘and if you believe that, it’s okay with me’.
“He just couldn’t say, I stand corrected, could he? What a sorry excuse for a president.”
With a third adding: “It’s okay to be wrong and be corrected. Accept it! We all have tons of moments like that. But. 40% from the U.S. is still too much.”
During his visit Macron also said that a truce between the two nations, Ukraine and Russia, could be agreed in the coming weeks but said that the peace deals ‘must not be a surrender of Ukraine’.
Trump has echoed a similar sentiment but has been more concerned about the cost the war is having on Americans rather than potential concession of giving up land.
