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'Make France great again!' Trump mocks Macron over world wars as Merkel calls for 'real true European army'

Donald Trump has for the second time blasted Emmanuel Macron's call for a
Donald Trump has for the second time blasted Emmanuel Macron's call for a

Donald Trump has hit out at Emmanuel Macron with a volley of tweets saying the French were "starting to learn German in Paris" before US intervention in the world wars, rounding off the attack off with a mocking plea to "MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!" 

Mr Trump began with an extraordinary attack on Emmanuel Macron’s call for a “European army” by likening a French defence rapprochement with Germany to the Nazi occupation of France.

Minutes after his online outburst, German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave her unprecedented backing to Mr Macron's defence plans, saying she too wanted a "real true European army", which would complement, but not rival, the Northern Atlantic Alliance, Nato.

In a burst of tweets, Mr Trump also defended his lack of attendance at a World War One memorial event at a cemetery in France at the weekend - he was widely criticised after pulling out due to rain - and threatened wine tariffs in a fully-fledged Twitter rant. 

“Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia,” tweeted Mr Trump, just back from the Paris commemorations.

“But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!”

Mr Trump has frequently criticised the level of members’ contributions to Nato, saying these had always been "ridiculously unfair" to the US. 

His remarks drew scorn from Guy Verhofstadt, a Macron ally and the EU Parliament's Brexit Coordinator, who tweeted: "What Trump doesn’t seem to realize is that without French money, the USA would not even exist as France financed the American revolution. They even gave you the Statue of Liberty to celebrate this!”

The comments came just two days after Mr Macron and Mrs Merkel held hands and kissed after commemorating the World War One Armistice signed on November 11, 1918.

Mr Trump also threatened wine tariffs against France in the rant on the social network. 

"On Trade, France makes excellent wine, but so does the U.S. The problem is that France makes it very hard for the U.S. to sell its wines into France, and charges big Tariffs, whereas the U.S. makes it easy for French wines, and charges very small Tariffs. Not fair, must change!" he wrote.

Mr Trump's ire stems from a call by Mr Macron last week for a "true European army”. 

"We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America,” he added, citing the recent decision of Mr Trump to withdraw from a Cold War-era nuclear treaty.

Mr Trump called the comments “very insulting”.

The two leaders had seemed to hit it off early on their relationship when Mr Trump attended a Bastille Day parade and called his French counterpart "perfect" when he came for a return visit.

But in Paris over the weekend, a sullen-looking Mr Trump barely made eye contact with Mr Macron at a press conference, in stark contrast with the bonhomie of their previous meetings.

On Sunday, Mr Macron sought to defuse tensions by agreeing that Europe should shoulder more of the costs of the Nato military alliance and that he had never intended to call the US a military threat.

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech while President Donald Trump looks on before a lunch at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, - Credit: AFP POOL
Mr Trump has consistently criticised NATO members for failing to honour their financial commitments to the alliance Credit: AFP POOL

But the French president appeared to take aim at Mr Trump in a stirring speech at the Armistice centenary ceremony under the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday when he warned of the dangers of rising nationalism and praised the European Union and the United ­Nations for their contribution to peace.

“Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism,” he said. 

In a Twitter riposte, Mr Trump wrote: "The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%. He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!........MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!" 

The Elysée Palace sought to play down Mr Trump's latest provocative tweets on Tuesday, saying they were "made for Americans, otherwise they wouldn't have been in English". 

"Donald Trump was among the first to arrive in Paris and reserved his first meeting for President Macron. These signals have far more value than tweets which we know how and why they are made," an aide told presidential press club reporters.

He added: "The relationship between Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump isn't always easy but it is ongoing.

"Beyond tweets, what's important is that they speak to each other several times per week, and raise issues that disrupt world affairs."

Meanwhile, in unprecedented comments, Mrs Merkel gave her clear backing to Mr Macron's call for a European army.

There is growing conviction in Berlin and Paris that Mr Trump’s America can no longer be relied on to guarantee the security of Europe. 

"We have to look at the vision of one day creating a real true European army," Mrs Merkel told MEPs in a European Parliament debate on the future of the EU after Brexit, which she called a “deep wound”.

In a speech which drew heckles from UKIP members but a standing ovation from most, she suggested this force could “supplement”, not rival, Nato, but that "only a stronger Europe is going to defend Europe". 

She also proposed establishing "a European Security Council with a rotating presidency”.

The Chancellor has previously backed various defence initiatives, including French proposals for a non-EU rapid reaction force which would include Britain, but has made no explicit call for a continental army.

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany addresses the European Parliament during a debate on the future of Europe at the European Parliament in Strasbourg - Credit: VINCENT KESSLER/AFP
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has made a clear call for a "real, true European army" in the wake of tweets from Donald Trump Credit: VINCENT KESSLER/AFP

Mr Trump ended his tweet flurry by addressing the criticism he has faced for cancelling a visit to a World War One cemetery over poor weather at the weekend.

"By the way, when the helicopter couldn’t fly to the first cemetery in France because of almost zero visibility, I suggested driving," the president wrote.

"Secret Service said NO, too far from airport & big Paris shutdown. Speech next day at American Cemetary in pouring rain! Little reported-Fake News!" 

Mr Trump may have been spurred into action by a French Army tweet apparently poking fun at his no-show, sent on Monday. 

"There's rain, but it's no problem," the account tweeted, with the hashtag #MondayMotivation.

Mr Trump was widely criticised for failing to visit the Aisne-Marne American cemetery before Armistice Day.

The French Army later claimed the tweet was only meant to be about training.