Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Emmanuel Macron attacks Donald Trump's 'fits of anger' after G7 talks unravel

His words come after President Trump called Canadian prime minister 'dishonest and weak'

Oliver Wheaton
Monday 11 June 2018 07:34 BST
Comments
Macron leaves imprint on Trump's hand after firm handshake at G7 Summit

French President Emmanuel Macron has criticised Donald Trump's "fits of anger" amid a spat over trade at the G7 summit.

The summit, which saw the leaders of the world's seven of the most powerful countries meet, ended poorly after the US president refused to endorse a joint communique with the other G7 leaders.

Following the summit in Charlevoix, Canada, Mr Trump took to Twitter where he called Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau "meek" as well as "very dishonest and weak".

However, Mr Macron has responded to the famously outspoken US leader, attacking not only his decisions but his manner of political parlance.

Mr Macron's office released a statement which said: "International co-operation cannot be dictated by fits of anger and throwaway remarks.

"We spend two days working out a [joint] statement and commitments. We are sticking to them and whoever reneges on them is showing incoherence and inconsistency".

"Let's be serious and worthy of our people. We make commitments and keep them."

The statement added that France and Europe "maintain their support" for the document which says the G7 leaders "acknowledge free, fair, and mutually beneficial trade is a key engine for engine for growth and jobs", and commits the group to modernise the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

On Twitter president Trump claimed his decision not to sign the communique was due to "false statements at [Mr Trudeau's] news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive tariffs to our US farmers, workers and companies".

He added: "I have instructed our US reps not to endorse the communique as we look at tariffs on automobiles flooding the US market!"

The war of words followed Trump and Mr Macron's seemingly civil handshake before the cameras during the summit yesterday. However eagle-eyed photographers later noticed Mr Macron's thumb-imprint on Trump's hand, suggesting the French leader gripped his American counterpart's hand very tightly.

Following the summit President Trump travelled from Canada to another important event - his potentially historic meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

If the meeting goes ahead it will mark the first time a US president has met with a North Korean leader since the Korean War.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in