Donald Trump blasts Emmanuel Macron for describing Nato as ‘brain dead’
US president says Macron’s statement was ‘very insulting’ and ‘dangerous’
![Trumpnato](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FhmvrVnBBcbmqqVp4NABDB-415-80.jpg)
Donald Trump has bitten back at Emmanuel Macron after the French president described Nato as “brain dead”.
On day one of a two-day Nato meeting, the US president said Macron’s remark was insulting and a “very, very nasty statement” that showed he was trying to break away from Nato.
Trump said: “Nato serves a great purpose. I think that’s very insulting. Nobody needs Nato more than France. It’s a very dangerous statement for them to make.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Warming to his theme, he went on to slam Macron’s domestic woes. “I think they have a very high unemployment rate in France,” he said. “France is not doing well economically at all.
“They have had a very rough year. You just can’t go around making statements like that about Nato. It is very disrespectful. I’m looking at him [Macron] and I’m saying that he needs protection more than anybody, and I see him breaking off [from Nato]. So I’m a little surprised at that.”
Macron had rattled Trump during an interview with The Economist. The French president expressed frustration that Turkey, a Nato member, had entered northern Syria in October without consulting any Nato partner apart from the US.
Although Trump expressed annoyance at the comment, The Guardian points out that his defence of Nato sees him “discarding the fact he himself has described Nato as obsolete on previous occasions”.
Later, Trump and Macron appeared in front of the media together, in a news conference described as “tense” by CNN.
Macron refused to back down on his remarks about Nato, saying: “I know that my statements created some reaction. I do stand by [them].”
He then corrected the US president about the number of Islamic State fighters with European backgrounds after Trump asked if Paris was willing to take back French terrorists captured in Syria and Iraq.
“Let's be serious: The very large numbers of fighters you have on the ground are the fighters coming from Syria, from Iraq and the region,” Macron said. CNN's reporter Daniel Dale tweeted that this statement meant: “Macron fact checked Trump to his face.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'I will not be silent' on Gaza, says Kamala Harris
Speed Read In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Harris supported Israel's right to defend itself while expressing a desire to end Palestinian suffering
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'How long can TikTok dominate as a social network?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Video game performers to strike over AI concerns
Speed Read SAG-AFTRA members are unhappy with gaming production companies
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Why is China stockpiling resources?
The Explainer The superpower has been amassing huge reserves of commodities at great cost despite its economic downturn
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
The GOP is Donald Trump Jr.'s party now
In The Spotlight The former president's gun-loving, live-streaming adult son has emerged as more than just his father's namesake — he's become a Republican powerhouse of his own
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
For God and country: is religion in politics making a comeback?
Talking Point There are many MPs of faith in the new Labour government despite it being the most openly secular House of Commons in history
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The attack on Donald Trump
Opinion We've seen this kind of shooter before
By Susan Caskie Published
-
74 things Donald Trump has said about women
Feature The former president has a long history of controversial remarks about the opposite sex
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
DHS opens review of Trump assassination attempt
Speed Read An independent panel will investigate the Secret Service's handling of the shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Can Kamala Harris beat Trump?
Today's Big Question Some senior Democrats are unsure the vice-president can win in November even as party closes ranks behind her
By The Week UK Published
-
Iran: does Masoud Pezeshkian's election mark a turning point?
Talking Point New president is seen as a progressive but much will depend on how the US reacts
By The Week UK Published