US President Donald Trump gave a wide-ranging interview to the New York Times, in which he criticised his attorney general, Jeff Sessions. But there was plenty more he said of interest.
Trump praised the Bastille Day parade in Paris, calling it 'one of the most beautiful parades I have ever seen' and suggesting the US should hold a similar event on Pennsylvania Avenue. He also claimed that Russian forces are adept at fighting in cold weather, saying they 'have won five wars where the armies that went against them froze to death.'
The president discussed Napoleon, incorrectly attributing the redesign of Paris to Napoleon Bonaparte rather than his nephew, Napoleon III. He also criticised Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia investigation and claimed that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is from Baltimore, though Rosenstein is actually from Philadelphia.
Trump described a dinner at the Eiffel Tower, saying thousands of people gathered below because they heard he was dining there. He also mentioned sitting next to the wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, stating she 'doesn't speak English,' though reports suggest she does.
During the interview, Trump's eight-year-old granddaughter entered the room and demonstrated her Mandarin skills. He also compared himself to Hillary Clinton, noting her failure to pass healthcare reform despite eight years as first lady. Finally, he discussed a conversation with former FBI Director James Comey about compromising memos, and a moment when he declined to shake German Chancellor Angela Merkel's hand, claiming he had already been with her for two hours.
