The President landed in France on Friday to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, and he immediately took to twitter slamming President Emmanuel Macron for making remarks about a future “European army.”
President Trump called the idea “very insulting,” adding that they need to pay up and contribute more to NATO.
President Trump reacted to remarks Emmanuel Macron made earlier in the week when Macron stated that Europe was “the main victim” of Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia.
“We will not protect the Europeans unless we decide to have a true European army,” Macron said, according to The Wall Street Journal. He also grouped in the U.S. with the countries from which France needed protecting.
“We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America,” Macron said on French radio.
President Trump when he landed in France tweeted, “President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the U.S., China and Russia. Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the U.S. subsidizes greatly!” (Article Continues Below)
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) praised President Trump’s firm stance on NATO and took to Twitter to respond.
He wrote, “I completely understand why President @realDonaldTrump was insulted by French President Macron’s suggestion that Europe needs to form an army to protect it from Russia, China and the US.”
The South Carolina Senator added, “I would like to remind President Macron that throughout his beautiful country there are thousands of graves filled with American soldiers who gave their lives to help liberate France – not conquer France. The same is true for many other European countries.” (Article Continues Below)
Graham added, “President @realDonaldTrump is right to suggest the best way to protect France and Europe is for the French and other European nations to meet their NATO contribution obligations.”
President Trump is not going to let other countries walk all over America like past administrations. We finally have a President who cares about the forgotten man and woman and he is standing up for ALL of us!
Official Tweets Below:
President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the U.S., China and Russia. Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the U.S. subsidizes greatly!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2018
I completely understand why President @realDonaldTrump was insulted by French President Macron’s suggestion that Europe needs to form an army to protect it from Russia, China and the US. https://t.co/9lwGftBDkt
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) November 10, 2018
President @realDonaldTrump is right to suggest the best way to protect France and Europe is for the French and other European nations to meet their NATO contribution obligations.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) November 10, 2018
