Emmanuel Macron has criticised Donald Trump for mocking his marriage, calling the US president's comments “neither elegant nor up to standard”. The remarks were made during a private lunch in Washington, where Trump put on a French accent and joked about Macron's wife, Brigitte.
Speaking to reporters upon arriving in South Korea on Thursday, Macron said: “So I am not going to respond to them – they do not merit a response.” The video of Trump's comments was briefly posted on the White House YouTube channel before being removed.
At the lunch, Trump mimicked a French accent and claimed Brigitte Macron “treats him extremely badly”. He also referenced a May 2025 video that appeared to show Brigitte pushing her husband's face as they prepared to disembark from a plane in Vietnam. Macron previously denied any “domestic dispute”, saying they were “joking as we often do”.
Trump also criticised NATO allies for not joining the war against Iran, saying: “I learned about Nato – Nato won't be there if we ever have the big one.” French politicians expressed outrage, with Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of the lower house of parliament, stating: “Honestly, it's not up to par.” Manuel Bompard of La France Insoumise called Trump's behaviour “absolutely unacceptable”.
