Emmanuel Macron has suggested it would be "chic" if the United States were a French-speaking country, following a lighthearted remark made by King Charles aimed at Donald Trump during the monarch's visit to Washington. The French president's response came after the British monarch joked at a White House state dinner on Tuesday evening that without the United Kingdom, America would be speaking French.
During his speech, King Charles addressed President Trump directly, saying: "You recently commented, Mr President, that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German. Dare I say that if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French?" In a post on X, Macron replied: "That would be chic!"
Background of Strained Relations
The King's quip came during a historic tour of the US by King Charles and Queen Camilla, widely viewed as an opportunity for the UK to mend a fractured relationship with the Trump administration. Tensions have been high following several attacks by Trump on British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the UK's refusal to participate in the US war on Iran.
Macron himself has been a frequent target of Trump's fierce criticism since the US president reassumed office in January 2025. The latest jibe, though seemingly harmless, risks provoking another furious verbal tirade from Trump, who has previously accused Macron of being "publicity-seeking" and said he "always gets it wrong."
Personal Attacks Escalate
Earlier this month, Trump made a personal attack on Macron by referencing a video showing Brigitte Macron shoving her husband as they disembarked from a plane in Vietnam in 2025. Expressing frustration over the lack of support for the Iran war, Trump said: "We didn’t need them, but I asked anyway. I call up France, Macron – whose wife treats him extremely badly... Still recovering from the right to the jaw." Macron slammed the remarks as "neither elegant nor up to standard."
Royal Tour Continues
King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to cap their historic US tour with a final stop in Virginia on Thursday, following a packed day in New York City. On the last day of their trip, the royals will attend a party marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, meet members of indigenous communities, and discuss climate change projects, according to US media. The King will then travel to Bermuda, his first visit as monarch to a British overseas territory.
On Wednesday, Charles and Camilla visited the 9/11 memorial in New York City, where they laid a bouquet of white flowers at the memorial pool.
