French President Emmanuel Macron criticized US President Donald Trump for imitating his accent and making derogatory comments about his marriage. Macron dismissed Trump’s remarks as lacking elegance and declined to engage with them during his visit to South Korea.
Trump’s comments were made at a private lunch in Washington, where he also criticized NATO allies for not supporting the US-Israeli stance on Iran. The remarks, including a mocking impression of a French accent, were briefly featured in a White House YouTube video before being taken down.
Referring to a video from 2025 showing Brigitte Macron apparently slapping her husband, Trump claimed that the French first lady treated Macron poorly. Macron denied any domestic dispute, clarifying that they were joking as usual.
During the lunch, Trump discussed seeking French assistance in the Gulf but portrayed Macron as hesitant in his response. French politicians condemned Trump’s behavior, with some questioning his mockery during a serious international crisis like the situation in Iran.
The incident sparked outrage among French lawmakers, with criticism coming from various political figures across party lines. The French media labeled Trump’s behavior as another controversial episode from the US president.
