Parisian mayor fires back at Trump after claiming his friend is too scared to visit French capital

Paris’s mayor has hit back at Donald Trump after he snubbed the French capital claiming it was a no-go zone for some Americans.

The President insinuated the French capital was no longer a safe destination for US tourists in a speech delivered at the Conservative Political Action Conference, when he referred his friend "Jim", who he said frequently visited the French city, but has not been for the past four or five years.

Jim, who he described as "a very, very substantial guy", would visit the capital every summer, Mr Trump said.

"It was automatic," he added. "He wouldn't miss it for anything."

But Mr Trump said he no longer went because: “Paris is no longer Paris.

"Take a look at what's happened in France. Take a look at Nice and Paris.”

Referencing the recent Isis-inspired terror attacks, which left hundreds dead, Mr Trump seemingly claimed the city was unsafe and held it up as a warning to others.

He told the audience: "Now he [Jim] doesn't even think in terms of going there. Take a look at what's happening to our world folks and we have to be smart. We have to be smart. We can't let it happen to us.”

Parisian mayor Anne Hidalgo responded to Mr Trump’s insults by tweeting: “To @readDonaldTrump and his friend Jim, in @LaTour Effel we celebrate the dynamism and spirit of openness of Paris with Mickey and Minnie."

Other French politicians followed suit, with the French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault also tweeting to the president.

And while Mr Trump’s friend Jim may not be among them, Mr Ayrault posted: "3.5 million Americans visited France in 2016. They will always be welcome."

Using the hashtag #Donald&Jim, she added that American tourist reservations were already up 30 per cent in 2017 when compared to last year.

Actor George Clooney added his views on this issue while in the city for the Cesar awards, the French equivalent of the Oscars, where he received a "Cesar d'honneur".

Speaking on the red carpet, he told reporters: “Yes, no one wants to go to Paris anymore because it's horrible here, apparently.”

Seemingly referencing the election of Mr Trump back home and the rising popularity of France’s far-right candidate, Front National leader Marine Le Pen, as the French own election approaches, Mr Clooney added: “We have some things to work on in the United States.

"I think you guys have some of the same issues here so ... good luck."