Trump and Macron, Foes and Friends?
Ever since 1778, when military support helped the Revolutionary Army overcome the oppressive rule of the British, the United States and France have been close allies. The European nation cemented this close relationship by gifting the city of New York an iconic woman, representative of a shared fight for independence, Lady Liberty. Ever since, the United States and France have worked in unison, defeating the Germans and fighting off the evils of Communism.
On January 20th, 2017, when Donald Trump officially became the 45th President of the United States, 80% of the French populous had a negative opinion of him. This being said, France had an election that May, and was seemingly following in the footsteps of their ally, with Marine Lepen making it to the second round of the election. Trump officially endorsed Lepen, shocking nobody, as both frequently belittle immigrants, disrespect Islam, and dislike the European Union. France however, was not ready to make the same choice as their neighbors across the Atlantic, and begrudgingly voted for Emanuel Macron, a centrist investment banker who married his French teacher. Macron’s election was a source of relief for France, opposite to the waves of protests that followed Trump’s inauguration.
When Macron spoke highly of Trump, playing into his oh so fragile ego, and inviting him to the military parade on Bastille Day, the world was confused. The French saw this as a manipulation, a way to ensure that Trump’s Twitter rants and reckless foreign policy would not disrupt France and its global aspirations. Trump, after making inappropriate comments about the French President’s wife, reciprocated the invitation and the two leaders planted a tree on the White House lawn. This cutesy dynamic between Trump and Macron, and subsequently their countries, did not last long, as the two men differ drastically on fundamental issues.
In an address to Congress, Macron pleaded that the United States take climate change seriously and rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. This speech shattered their relationship and marked the beginning of an opposition between the two. Macron has made climate change a pillar of his administration, beginning a transition into renewable energy and working to resettle people living in areas threatened by rising oceans. He has made it vehemently clear that we cannot “be content with words,” and that action needs to be taken. Furthermore, Macron spearheaded the Citizens’ convention for climate initiative, an assembly of 150 randomly selected citizens whose goal is to propose initiatives with the goal of reducing the French emissions of greenhouse gas by at least 40% compared to 1990, in a spirit of social justice. In contrast, Trump has repeatedly denied the existence of climate change and done everything in his power to encourage irresponsible behavior surrounding the environment.
In addition to the environment, the duo has irreconcilable differences regarding foreign policy. Trump backed Macron’s opponent, a woman who vowed to remove France from the European Union because she didn’t want to accept migrants. Macron, however, has staunchly supported the E.U., stating that “The only way to secure our future is to rebuild a sovereign, united and democratic Europe.” Furthermore, Macron has been very clear that while he and Vladimir Putin have a stable relationship, he believes it is “important to have a strategic dialogue with Russia,” and not underestimate their capabilities. Trump though, has famously been very pro-Russia. To be fair, they got him elected, so he owes them that much. However, many believe that the straw that broke the camel’s back for Macron was Trump destroying the Iran Nuclear Deal, which annihilated the prospect of stability in the region. The French government has since been working with their Iranian counterparts in an attempt to draft a new deal, without the United States, or at least without Donald. For French people, it feels like Macron is picking up the pieces of a world Trump is continuously working to demolish.
However, the biggest difference between their leadership styles has been uncovered by the coronavirus. Many have criticized Macron for closing the country two weeks too late, but otherwise, France has dealt with the pandemic rather well. Macron declared war on COVID-19. Schools, restaurants, bars and movie theatres closed and when leaving their houses, citizens were required to print an “attestation” explaining why. Only a few motives were deemed justifiable, and those who failed were caught galavanting around for no valid reason were fined. Some regions of France were hit harder than others, and in order to avoid a shortage of beds in certain hotspots, Macron organized the transport of COVID-19 patients to hospitals in regions with fewer cases and a higher hospital bed capacity. The curve has flattened in France, and citizens can now rejoice in the freedoms of pre-coronavirus life as long as they wear masks and avoid large gatherings. In the U.S. though, the situation is much bleaker. Trump denied the severity of the virus for months, failed to prepare for it, and has turned the pandemic into a partisan issue. He has used his role as President to ridicule masks, CDC recommendations and use racist appellations for the virus. Trump believes that COVID-19 is a game of hide-and-go-seek, and not testing will somehow make it disappear. Over one hundred thousand Americans have died due to his incompetence. And he hasn’t changed his tune. The pandemic has exposed how weak of a leader Trump is, and how he values image more than the lives of the people he swore to project, whereas Macron has shown himself competent and well-intentioned in the face of such adversity.
While seemingly opposite, Trump and Macron do have more in common than the U.S. media likes to portray. Both entered a presidential race as political outsiders, sick of the establishment, and have large age gaps with their spouses, just in different directions.
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder by police officers and the demand for change in the United States, Trump has tear-gassed protesters and ignored the root of the issue. The Black Lives Matter movement spread across the world and hit France. There have been numerous protests in Paris, demanding justice for Adama Traoré, a man killed by French police in 2016 under similar circumstances as George Floyd. He, like many men of African or Arab lineage, faced brutal treatment at the hands of the French police. Macron has quasi ignored the situation as a whole. Both Presidents have distracted the media and attempted to separate themselves from the Black Lives Matter movement rattling their countries.
While the subsequent debate surrounding statues that commemorate fundamentally racist men has polarized the United States, it is beginning to strike France. Trump has repeatedly tweeted and stated that these statues are “part of a Great American Heritage,” and as such, will not be taken down. Macron has echoed the same sentiment, stating that “the republic will not erase any trace, or any name, from its history… it will not take down any statue.” It seems as though the discussion surrounding racism is one neither leader is ready to face.
The painting of Macron as the opposite of Trump is unjust. The French leader is far from perfect and has aligned himself with Trump on a pivotal issue. However, Macron has worked tirelessly to protect France and French interests from hurricane Donald and has proven himself valuable in attempting to reconstruct a sense of global normalcy.
