Macron says he could work with Trump: ‘I take the leaders people give me’
French president previously suggested US interest in protecting global order receded under Trump
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Emmanuel Macron said he was willing to work with Donald Trump if the former president ended up winning the US elections.
This comes just a day after Mr Trump scored a record-setting win in the Iowa caucuses.
“I’ve always had the same philosophy, I take the leaders that people give me,” The French president said on Thursday during a news conference.
He added: “The United States is an important ally... It’s a democracy that’s going through a crisis in which it itself is the first priority and the second priority is China’s power. All of us Europeans need to be lucid about that.”
The French president previously suggested that the US interest in protecting the global order receded under the tenure of Mr Trump. In 2019, Mr Macron described Nato as “brain” dead, citing waning US support for the transatlantic military alliance.
The former president called these comments by Mr Macron “nasty” and “insulting”.
Mr Trump has previously described Europe as a “foe” which is “almost as bad as China” and hinted that he might pull out of the alliance if its terms were not altered to suit the United States.
Mr Macron initially considered Mr Trump a “friend” and even extended invitations like dining at the Eiffel Tower on Bastille Day but his relationship with the former president soured over time due to disagreements on climate, taxation, and Iran.
Tensions further rose over issues with Turkey, Syria, and Russia, while trade disputes, including France’s new tech tax, added to the discord.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump, the sole current or former US president facing criminal charges, secured a victory in the Iowa Republican contest by an unprecedented margin.
Justin Trudeau has said that if Mr Trump is re-elected as US president, it will not “be easy” for Canada.
The Canadian prime minister’s remarks on Tuesday echo concerns by the president of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde, who previously warned that the re-election of the former president would be a threat to Europe.
Additional reporting with agencies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments