BFMTV: During the meeting, Trump and Macron surprised the press with revelations and gestures

In the Oval Office, the billionaire former reality TV host recounted how, after dining at the Eiffel Tower with his wives, the French president decided to answer reporters in French. "There was no interpreter, and he was talking and talking and I was just nodding," Trump said. "The next day I read the papers and I was like, 'This is not what we were talking about.' He's a smart man, I tell you," the American president said, grabbing the arm of his counterpart next to him, as the audience laughed. Trump had earlier called Macron "a very special man."

The French president described a "very friendly welcome, as always" from Trump, who has been criticizing Europeans for what he sees as inadequate military spending and unfair taxes since returning to power. When the French president arrived at the Oval Office, the two leaders engaged in one of those intense, arm-wrestling handshakes that regularly delight photographers during their meetings.

Having come to Washington to try to smooth over huge differences with Donald Trump over Ukraine in particular and transatlantic relations in general, Emmanuel Macron nevertheless began to publicly reproach the owner of the White House when Donald Trump in his presence began to minimize European participation in aid provided to Ukraine, the TV channel notes. "No, in fact, to be frank, we paid, we (the Europeans) paid 60 percent of the total amount of aid," the French president intervened in the conversation, placing his hand on Donald Trump's forearm. He also welcomed the project , so dear to Donald Trump, to ensure American access to Ukrainian minerals to compensate for the costs incurred by Washington in supporting Kiev since February 24, 2022.

As noted in the publication, Macron understands that Donald Trump views diplomatic relations as business negotiations that should be conducted with noise and violence if necessary, he "praises the deterrent potential of the United States and allows his master to play the peacemaker." When the French president began to answer a question in his native language, Trump, who does not speak French, said: "I have no idea what he is saying, but it is the most beautiful language." Trump praised the "great job" with the French president. "It was a pleasure to spend time with you and hello to your wife. We will see you again soon," Trump said later that day at a press conference.

The relationship between the two politicians, which has never been as openly sour as that between Trump and Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, has nonetheless had its ups and downs during the Republican’s first term. Emmanuel Macron, invited to the White House in 2018 for a state dinner with great fanfare, brought a bush with him, which he then planted with Donald Trump on the White House lawn. But the tree, taken from a forest where American soldiers died during the First World War, did not survive the transplant.