The relationship between US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron has been marked by tension and disagreements, which may be on full display at the upcoming G7 summit in France. The two leaders have a history of clashing on issues such as tariffs, Ukraine, and the Iran war.

Early Friendship

Despite their differences, Macron and Trump initially had a friendly relationship, with Macron inviting Trump to join him for Bastille Day celebrations in 2017. Trump reciprocated by making Macron the guest of honor at his first White House state dinner in 2018.

However, by the end of Trump’s first term, the friendship had begun to fray. The two leaders now openly trade barbs, with Trump criticizing Macron’s handling of European defense and Macron condemning Trump’s tariffs on European imports.

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. Trump has been critical of European countries for not doing enough to support the US in its efforts to contain Iran, and has threatened to impose tariffs on European goods if they do not comply with his demands.

Macron, on the other hand, has been trying to accommodate Trump’s schedule to ensure his presence at the summit, despite Trump’s history of leaving such gatherings early. Macron has also invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to join the leaders’ discussions on Tuesday, in an effort to address the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Despite the tensions between them, Macron and Trump have maintained a cordial relationship, with each referring to the other as ‘my friend.’ However, their differences are likely to be on full display at the G7 summit, and it remains to be seen how their relationship will evolve in the coming months.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.