Trump, Macron Bring Rocky History to G7 Summit

Complicated History

The two leaders have a history of clashing on various issues, including tariffs, Ukraine, and the Iran war. Trump has been critical of US allies, including France, for not supporting his policies, while Macron has been vocal about his disagreements with Trump’s approach to international relations.

Despite their differences, the two leaders have maintained a cordial relationship, with Macron inviting Trump to join him for Bastille Day celebrations in 2017 and Trump reciprocating by hosting Macron at the White House for a state dinner.

G7 Summit

The G7 summit, which will be held in the French lakeside resort of Evian-les-Bains, is expected to be a tense affair, with Trump’s long-simmering frustrations with US allies likely to be on display. However, European leaders are expected to approach the summit with a professional and diplomatic tone, according to Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Kurt Volker, a former US ambassador to NATO, noted that the Trump-Macron relationship has been complicated by the Iran war and Trump’s complaints that European countries were not supporting the US. Volker also mentioned that the waning support for Ukraine in its war against Russia from the Trump administration has irritated the French, who feel that this is an important issue that the US is not paying attention to.

Macron has tried to accommodate Trump’s schedule to ensure his presence at the summit, knowing that he has a record of leaving such gatherings early. The French president has also been critical of Trump’s comments on various issues, including his recent remarks on drug prices and tariffs, which Macron described as neither elegant nor appropriate.

Original reporting: KTSA News/Talk (San Antonio) — read the source article.