United States President Donald Trump welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to the White Home on Monday for discussions on Ukraine, European safety and commerce.
Macron, who has constructed a cordial rapport with Trump, was the primary European chief to go to him for the reason that starting of his second time period on January 20. The French chief’s go to got here at a time of rising public tensions between Europe and the US, particularly over the continent’s safety and over the destiny of Ukraine in its battle in opposition to Russia.
Listed here are some key takeaways from the Trump-Macron talks.
Regardless of friendship, Macron not afraid to problem Trump
Trump and Macron developed a heat relationship throughout Trump’s first time period, typically making headlines for his or her exuberant shows of affection, together with lengthy handshakes, embraces and back-slapping.
The leaders maintained this pleasant tone on Monday, paying compliments to one another and gripping palms even whereas disagreeing on a number of factors.
“President Macron is a really particular man in my ebook,” stated Trump within the Oval Workplace.
Regardless of the nice and cozy alternate, Macron didn’t shrink back from difficult Trump on key points such because the Ukraine battle and commerce coverage during a news conference.
Macron said that ending the battle in Ukraine – one thing Trump has stated could require Ukraine to cede territory – should not come at the cost of a weak settlement or Ukraine’s “give up”.
“This peace should enable for Ukrainian sovereignty and permit Ukraine to barter with different stakeholders,” Macron stated.
The French chief additionally made the uncommon transfer of reducing Trump off mid-sentence, because the US president falsely claimed that Europe was merely loaning Ukraine cash for its battle effort, anticipating it to be repaid.
“No, in actual fact, to be frank,” stated Macron, putting a hand on Trump’s arm to interrupt him, “we paid 60 % of the full effort and it was – just like the US – loans, ensures, grants.”
Trump, flashing a smile, responded: “Should you consider that, it’s comfortable with me.”
Macron additionally addressed the difficult difficulty of commerce between the US and the European Union, which Trump has threatened to levy enormous tariffs in opposition to. Macron referred to as for “truthful competitors” that might result in extra funding.
“We need to have extra prosperity on either side of the Atlantic,” stated Macron. “We now have a shared agenda in that regard.”
Macron hammered residence his message that the US ought to cooperate, not antagonise, Europe economically throughout a Fox Information interview, saying the US “can not have a commerce battle with China and Europe on the similar time”.
British broadcaster Piers Morgan, a longtime pal of Trump, stated Macron confirmed he is without doubt one of the most expert leaders in coping with the US president.
“No world chief handles Trump in addition to Macron. Pleasant however agency, respectful however not afraid to face as much as him when he thinks he’s mistaken. And Trump respects him for it,” Morgan wrote in a submit on X.
No world chief handles Trump in addition to Macron. Pleasant however agency, respectful however not afraid to face as much as him when he thinks he’s mistaken. And Trump respects him for it. https://t.co/88GlEap9Ib
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 24, 2025
Macron agrees Europe ought to step up on safety
Whereas urgent Trump on the necessity for any peace deal to be truthful to Ukraine, Macron did acknowledge Trump’s longstanding issues concerning the US shouldering an outsized share of European safety, together with with regard to Ukraine.
Macron stated European nations “have to do extra… to extra pretty share the safety burden that your nation has been carrying for therefore a few years”.
The 2 leaders agreed {that a} European peacekeeping drive might be despatched to Ukraine as a part of any potential peace deal, a situation Trump stated Putin would additionally settle for.
“They might not be alongside the entrance traces. They might not be a part of any battle. They might be there to make sure that the peace is revered,” Macron stated of the drive.
Nonetheless, Macron stated it was important for the US to supply “backup” for such a coalition.
Trump dedicated to Ukraine mineral deal
As a part of his bid to recoup US assist to Ukraine, Trump has been pressuring Ukraine to cede control of lots of of billions of {dollars}’ price of its uncommon minerals – a deal that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has up to now resisted.
Talking alongside Macron, Trump said that the US is “getting very shut” to finalising such an settlement, insisting it will in the end “get its a reimbursement” over time.
Macron appeared to supply cautious help for the association, noting that he anticipated Trump would quickly “signal a deal on uncommon earth minerals” and that France was happy to see “this very robust American involvement”.
Anatol Lieven, the director of the Eurasia programme on the Quincy Institute for Accountable Statecraft, informed Al Jazeera he believes the US demand for Ukraine’s uncommon minerals is “predatory”.
“Trump is asking for way more than America gave,” Lieven stated of the US help. “And it was not a mortgage. It was a present, which was seen to be in America’s personal safety curiosity. So this method is wholly illegitimate.
“That stated, maybe one thing may be negotiated, which is extra affordable,” he added.
Differing views on Russia’s Putin
The Trump-Macron assembly highlighted the 2 leaders’ divergent takes on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who Trump has sought rapprochement with and whom he hopes to fulfill.
When a reporter requested Trump if he views Putin as a “dictator” in the identical means he labelled Ukraine’s Zelenskyy last week, Trump responded: “ I don’t use these phrases flippantly. I believe that we’re going to see the way it all works out. Let’s see what occurs.”
Macron, then again, clearly pinned Russia as “the aggressor” within the ongoing battle and claimed that “Putin violated the peace.” Trump had final week accused Ukraine of beginning the battle.
