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PARIS – President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron is heading towards a potential clash in talks on Saturday after Trump took offense at what he called "very insulting".
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron as they meet at Elysee Presidential Palace, as part of the commemoration ceremony for Armistice Day, 100 years after the end of the First World War, in Paris, France, November 10, 2018. REUTERS / Carlos Barria
Fresh off U.S. congressional elections that saw his Republican Party's power erode, Trump is in Paris this weekend to the U.S.-European alliance at commemorations to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One.
Macron made in Europe 1 radio interview this week.
Macron said Europe needed to protect itself against China, Russia and even the United States.
Later in the interview he spoke about the need for a European army, saying:
"Faced by Russia, which is one of those things that we can be threatening … we need to have a Europe that can be defended by itself, with the exception of the United States," he said.
Trump, who has pushed NATO to the United States, complained.
"Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its share of NATO, which the U.S. subsidizes greatly," Trump said on Twitter.
The President, joined by his wife Melania and high-ranking U.S. officials, arrived late on Friday aboard Air Force One for a visit that he called "very special" and one that he "looked forward to."
On Saturday morning, the U.S. President arrived at the Elysee Palace under rainy skies for talks with Macron. Macron welcomed him at the front steps, but their hand shake and greeting appeared less than the past.
SOLEMN COMMEMORATION
Trump's official mission is to participate in ceremonies marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One. He is scheduled to make pilgrimages to two American cemeteries, Belleau Wood east of Paris on Saturday and Suresnes on the western outskirts of the capital on Sunday, where he will make formal remarks.
His trip comes just days after congressional elections delivered results that will complicate his next two years. While Republicans have slightly expanded their majority in the US Senate, they have lost control of the US House of Representatives to Democrats who may use their newfound power to launch investigations into Trump and Stymie's agenda.
Trump's talks with Macron at the Elysee are likely to cover European concerns about Trump's plans to withdraw from the United States from the 1980s Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Agreement and U.S. renewal of sanctions against Iran.
Macron told Europe 1 radio that the "main victim" of the U.S. withdrawal from the INF agreement was Europe and its security.
The French president, who is trying to get rid of this year to the end of withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, has also voiced worries about the impact of sanctions on European companies doing business with Iran.
Trump may also chat with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday at the end of the Great War 100 years ago. Trump and Putin are expected to meet each other at G-20 summit in Buenos Aires.
Trump, who has pursued "America First" policies since taking over the presidency in January 2017, declared himself a "nationalist" during the run-up to the congressional elections.
"I'm not a globalist, but I want to take care of the globe, but first," he told Fox News Channel's "The Ingraham Angle" last week. "I want to help people around the world, but we have to take care of our country."
Additional reporting by Luke Baker and Michel Rose; Editing by Luke Baker and Richard Lough
