Macron fires back at Trump: “Neither pleasant nor dignified”
French President Emmanuel Macron sharply criticized US President Donald Trump over remarks aimed at him and his family. Macron said such comments were out of place at a time when war, civilian deaths and economic pressure are dominating the global agenda.
A fresh political row has broken out between Washington and Paris after Donald Trump made mocking remarks about Emmanuel Macron and his family. Speaking in Seoul during an official visit, the French president said Trump’s comments were neither appropriate nor dignified, especially given the seriousness of the war in the Middle East and its growing impact on ordinary people.
Macron responds publicly
French President Emmanuel Macron addressed Trump’s remarks during a press appearance in South Korea’s capital, Seoul. Referring to the wider context of war, civilian suffering and economic strain, Macron made clear that he did not see the comments as fitting the moment.
He said:
“Today we are talking about extremely serious matters. Today we are talking about women and men at war, about civilians who have been killed, about the war continuing in the region. We are talking about the effects of this war on our economies. I am thinking about our citizens, and Americans are going through the same thing. Fuel and gas prices are rising. The words I heard, the words you mean, are neither pleasant nor dignified.”
Macron also said Trump’s remarks were “not worth answering.”
What Trump said
Trump had spoken about Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron in his previous address, claiming that the French president had been badly treated by his wife and suggesting that he was still trying to recover from the impact of that incident.
He also said that during a phone call he had asked Macron to send military support and warships to the Gulf, but that France had refused. Trump claimed Macron later offered to send ships after the war was over, and said he replied: “No, Emmanuel, I won’t need them after the war is over.”
Old footage returned to the spotlight
Trump’s comments also revived discussion around footage that had previously circulated on social media during Macron’s official visit to Hanoi in June 2025. The images had drawn wide attention at the time and were brought back into the public conversation after Trump’s remarks.
