President Donald Trump meets his French counterpart Emanuel Macron

Macron, who proposed to create a "European army" because of what he sees as hesitant US support, told Trump that his idea supported the US's call for An increased sharing of the burden by Europe.

"We need more European capabilities, European defense," said Macron, speaking in both French and English.

After Trump arrived at the Elysee on a gray, rainy morning, he and Macron shook hands (briefly), smiled and gave the photographers the sign of the raised hand the day after their public clash on US defense commitments in Europe.

Things seemed more tense before the actual meeting; Trump sat, his face impassive, as Macron smiled and pointed to the American president.

As Trump traveled to Paris for World War I commemorations this weekend, his nationalist critique of long-standing global alliances – many of which were built on the ashes of the two world wars of the last century – hovered over debates.

French President Emmanuel Macron and President Donald Trump meet at the Elysee Palace in anticipation of the International Centenary of the Armistice of the First World War on November 11, 1918. Trump and others Heads of state and government will participate in the commemoration ceremonies of their countries. & # 39; WW1 soldiers fallen in France. (Photo: Christophe Petit Tesson / POOL, EPA-EFE)

The president is among the sixty world leaders in France to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. In an early morning tweet, Trump said, "Is there anything else to celebrate that the end of a war, especially this one, which was one of the bloodiest and most worst of all time? "

The Macron-Trump bilateral meeting was held one day before the coup sending celebrations to the Arc de Triomphe for a ceremony in honor of the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Other ceremonies of the First World War are taking place this week in France and Europe, some involving Trump – although he canceled a trip Saturday to American Cemetery Ainse-Marne and to the memorial because of what he said. A statement from the White House called "planning and logistics difficulties caused by the weather."

An American delegation led by the Chief of Staff, General John Kelly, and the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Joe Dunford, attended the cemetery ceremony.

Saturday evening, the President and First American lady, Melania Trump, must attend a gala dinner at the Musée D'Orsay, the old train station transformed into a museum of impressionist art on the Impressionism along the Seine.

Domestic problems are also in the president's mind, less than a week after the Democrats gained control of the US House in Tuesday's congressional elections, and after Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions the next day.

Prior to his departure for Elysse Palace and his meeting with Macron, Trump tweeted the support of his new Acting Attorney General, Matthew Whitaker, who was criticized for his attacks on the Special Council's investigation into the Interference by Russia in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump tweeted complaints about California's wildfires, explaining that "the management of the forest is so mediocre".

Although Macon has made it a priority to reach an agreement with the US president, the French leader has also criticized Trump for withdrawing from international agreements, notably the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris agreement on change. climate.

EU officials have also questioned Trump 's desire to befriend Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is threatening other countries and seeking to weaken the Western alliance.

In recent days, Macron has criticized Trump's decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a 1987 arms control agreement aimed at banning Russia from developing capable medium-range missiles. to reach the cities of Western Europe.

TO CLOSE

While on his way to Paris on Friday morning, President Trump insisted that the video broadcast at the White House describing the contact between a staff member and a CNN reporter was not changed and that he again attacked a number of journalists, calling one of them a "loser". (November 9)
AP

This decision inspired Macron's call to form a European army. In an interview with Europe 1 radio, he said such a force might be needed because "we must protect ourselves with regard to China, Russia and even the United States of America" .

While landing in Paris, Trump tweeted: "French President Macron has just suggested to Europe to build its own army to protect itself from the United States, China and Russia. insulting, but maybe Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, that the United States is subsidizing greatly! "

Richard Haass, chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations, said Macron's idea was reasonable because Trump questioned the need to respect NATO's "Article 5", which states that the alliance members would help all the attacked members.

This is not insulting, but what you get when the Potus raises doubts about NATO Article 5, slaps the tariffs of allies, calls the EU an enemy, calls on Putin, signals his support to the National Front and unilaterally breaks pacts, "tweeted Haass.

Trump's self-proclaimed "America first" foreign policy and his assertion of being a "nationalist" are at the heart of the conflict.

Celia Belin, a visiting scholar and expert on French politics at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, said Trump's nationalism worried world leaders who fear that Americans "no longer feel compelled to lead the world."

"America First" and other forms of nationalism could encourage "rogue regimes" to threaten their neighbors, said Belin, although the situation is not yet catastrophic.

"The United States is still the dominant power, the Atlantic alliance is still alive," said Belin. "But his (Trump) foreign policy has weakened some elements."

Trump and his supporters associate nationalism with patriotism and opposition to a form of "globalism" that disadvantages the United States.

Critics say that despots throughout history have put forward a nationalism designed for their country to impose its power on others, often with racial and ethnic components.

That's the kind of nationalism that says, "I only care about my people, it's special and has the right to look only at themselves and do what they do." wants anyone, "said Margaret MacMillan, a professor of history at the University of Toronto. Toronto and author of "Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World".

"I think Trump's kind of nationalism is closer to that end of the spectrum," she said.

Macron and other world leaders have also described the rise of nationalism on their continent, especially in Poland and Hungary.

Trump and Macron have often pretended to hear – this is Trump's second special visit to Paris after attending the July 14 parade of last year – and have tried to do it again Saturday.

There were also moments of tension. In particular, at their first meeting in 2017, Trump and Macron appeared to be embarking on a macho handshake contest to determine who could make the best grip.

Saturday's handshakes were brief and pro forma, even as photographers took photos of joined hands. Prior to their meeting, Macron smiled and often touched Trump on the shoulder thanking him for his visit to Paris.

Trump also complimented Macron, but most of the time frowned and did not hit his host's back.

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