A private lunch meant to stay behind closed doors has instead ignited a diplomatic storm, after US President Donald Trump took aim at French leader Emmanuel Macron; and even dragged his wife into the crossfire.
In a video briefly uploaded to the White House YouTube channel before being taken down, Trump is heard ridiculing Macron while venting frustrations over NATO allies he claims failed to support the United States in the escalating conflict involving Iran.
“We didn’t need them, but I asked anyway,” Trump said, referring to his outreach to France for military support in the Gulf.
But it was his personal jab that has drawn the most outrage.
“I call up France—Macron, whose wife treats him extremely badly. Still recovering from the right to the jaw,” Trump quipped, in remarks that have since gone viral.
The comment appeared to reference a controversial May 2025 video involving Brigitte Macron, which some claimed showed her shoving the French president during a trip to Vietnam. The Elysee Palace had previously dismissed the clip as part of a disinformation campaign, with Macron himself brushing it off.
Trump did not stop there.
Recounting what he described as a direct appeal for French military assistance, the US President claimed he personally asked Macron to deploy ships to support American operations in the Gulf.
“And I said, ‘Emmanuel, we’d love to have some help… If you could, could you please send ships immediately,’” Trump narrated.
He then mocked Macron’s alleged response, putting on a caricatured French accent: “No, no, no, we cannot do that, Donald. We can do that after the war is won.”
‘Then I call up Macron, whose wife treats him EXTREMELY BADLY’ — Trump
‘He’s still recovering from the RIGHT to the JAW’
Puts on accent as he describes his call with French Prez https://t.co/ZAG8H3NYB6 pic.twitter.com/KJK2NG6w2u
— RT (@RT_com) April 1, 2026
The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, where the US has reportedly been engaged in military operations linked to Iran, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. Trump, however, insisted that American forces were already “setting records” in neutralising threats, including ballistic missiles.
The French government has yet to issue an official response, but the remarks are likely to strain already delicate ties between Washington and Paris—two long-standing allies whose cooperation remains crucial within NATO.