French people concerned about the anniversary of devastating terrorist attacks while Trump slams their president on Twitter

PARIS – When President Trump on Tuesday launched numerous attacks on Twitter against French President Emmanuel Macron, Macron – like much of France – was preoccupied with something else.

Tuesday happens to be the third anniversary of the November 2015 bombings in Paris, when a network of armed men affiliated with the Islamic State killed 130 people during a coordinated assault on the hall Bataclan concert hall, several coffee terraces and a sports stadium. The attack has been the bloodiest on French soil since the Second World War and has deeply shaken the nation.

To this end, Tuesday was supposed to be a solemn day in France, with a commemoration ceremony planned in Paris and dark statements of remembrance issued by officials.

"Three years have passed but nothing is forgotten," Macron said in a statement. "November 13 has entered the memory of our entire country, where each of the victims is detained. We will never forget them: they remind us of the strength of what unites us and what can not be destroyed. "

But by the time Macron made his statement, Trump's attacks on a world leader he had repeatedly called a friend and a country ranked among the oldest and most historical allies in the United States had already begun.

[In a morning tweetstorm, Trump takes repeated aim at France’s Macron]

Trump's first tweet against Macron ridiculed France's performance in both world wars and accused the French president, once again, of calling for the creation of a European army to defend against the United States – a misleading statement that does not reflect what Macron said.

Trump had made a similar comment on Friday night, as Air Force One had arrived in Paris for the commemoration of the centenary of the 1918 armistice, marking the end of the First World War.

In an interview with French radio Europe 1 last week, Macron said Europe should take charge of its own defense without relying too much on the United States. He actually echoed what Trump has been saying for a long time about the need for Europe for a bigger share of its defense burden.

"I believe in the project of a sovereign Europe," said Macron in this interview, which had been poorly translated in several reports in English. "We will not protect Europe if we do not decide to build a real European army. In front of Russia, which is on our borders and which can be threatening, I would like to start a security dialogue with Russia, a country that I respect and which is European. "

After Trump's attack on Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel came to Macron's defense, echoing her initial call.

"We want to work on the vision of the eventual creation of a true European army," Merkel said in a speech to the European Parliament. His remarks implied that such a project would not be pursued imminently. But a European army, said Merkel, "will show the world that there will be no more war between European countries."

In a stab in Trump, Merkel said that the time when Europe could count on others was "simply over."

"Former allies have doubts about proven links," she said, probably referring to the United States.

Trump's attacks on France continued despite everything. He then began a discussion on trade imbalances, especially on French wine.

[Analysis: The Broken Bromance? The Trump-Macron relationship is on the rocks.]

Trump also personally attacked Macron, which is an unusual break in Franco-American relations. He pointed out Macron's low approval rate and France's relatively high unemployment rate.

"The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low approval rate in France, of 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%," writes Trump. In fact, the unemployment rate in France is closer to 9%.

Trump, however, is right about Macron's low approval ratings, which were adopted following a scandal involving a dishonest security official, numerous unpopular changes in labor laws, and perceived by many as monarchical and distant.

"He was just trying to get into another subject. By the way, there is no more nationalist country than France, very proud people – and rightly so! "Trump said on Twitter.

Macron had used the commemoration of the Armistice Day of November 11 to condemn nationalism and "the selfishness of nations who defended only their own interests."

Patriotism, said Macron Sunday, "is exactly the opposite of nationalism."

As France continued to mourn the anniversary of the November 13 attacks, Trump ended his tirade on Twitter with a familiar statement: "…… MAKE FRANCE TOGETHER!" he writes.

The Elysee Palace, seat of the French presidency, told the Washington Post that he had made no comment.

Rick Noack in Berlin contributed to this report.

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