President Donald Trump hosted French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House today for talks, at a time of deep uncertainty about the future of transatlantic relations, with Trump transforming American foreign policy as he seeks to quickly end Russia's war in Ukraine.
The French president attempted to correct his American counterpart on the nature of European support for Ukraine during Oval Office talks on Monday, interrupting President Donald Trump as he spoke to point out that he was getting the facts wrong, A2 CNN reports.
The extraordinary moment highlighted the tense dynamics of Monday's talks. While Trump and Macron appeared friendly and willing to engage on Ukraine's future, the talks were set against a backdrop of rhetoric.
"You know, Europe is lending money to Ukraine. They're getting their money back," Trump began, as he prepared for a new deal to secure Ukraine's mineral revenues as back payments for American aid.
Macron reached out to grab Trump's arm to intervene.
“No, actually, to be honest, we paid. We paid 60% of the total effort. It was like the US: loans, guarantees, grants,” he said. “We have $230 billion in frozen assets in Europe, Russian assets. But that’s not collateral for a loan, because it’s not our property. So they’re frozen.”
Trump seemed to avoid interjecting: "If you believe that, that's fine. They get their money, and we don't. But now we will."
The two leaders began their day by participating in a more than two-hour virtual meeting with other leaders of the Group of Seven economies to discuss the war.
Emmanuel Macron said he was given a "very friendly" welcome by Donald Trump upon arrival at the White House, where he participated in a virtual meeting with G7 leaders from the Oval Office along with his American counterpart, writes A2 CNN.
"The welcome was very good and friendly, as usual: we attended the G7 videoconference meeting and had a first discussion. The virtual meeting of G7 leaders was "perfect," Macron told reporters as he left the White House, where he and Trump had participated in a call with the group leaders from the Oval Office.
Trump has also made claims to territory in Greenland, Canada, Gaza and the Panama Canal, as well as to rare earth minerals from Ukraine. A little more than a month into his second term, the "America First" president has cast a long shadow over what veteran American diplomats and former administration officials had seen as America's reassuring presence for global stability and continuity.
Their meeting comes after President Trump shocked Europe with repeated criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for failing to negotiate an end to the war and for refusing to sign a deal that gives the United States access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, which could be used in the American space, medical and technology industries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he hopes the United States will continue its support for Ukraine, following a public spat between him and Trump last week.
(A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
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