US President Donald Trump has mocked French President Emmanuel Macron and criticised NATO allies for failing to support the United States in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Trump made the remarks during a private lunch on Wednesday, in a video briefly posted on the White House YouTube channel before access was restricted.
According to the video, the US president said he had reached out to France for support but claimed his request was declined. He also made a controversial comment about Macron’s wife while recounting the interaction.
“I call up France, Macron… and I said, ‘Emmanuel, we’d love to have some help in the Gulf… could you please send ships immediately,’” Trump said, adding that the French leader allegedly declined the request.
Trump further criticised NATO, expressing doubts about the alliance’s reliability in major conflicts. “NATO won’t be there if we ever have the big one,” he said, describing the alliance as a “paper tiger.”
The remarks come amid rising tensions in the Middle East following the war involving Iran, with the United States seeking greater support from its allies.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also suggested that Washington may reconsider its relationship with NATO after the conflict, indicating growing strain within the transatlantic alliance.
