Macron Grabs Trump’s Arm While Correcting Him: ‘No, In Fact…’
French President Emmanuel Macron corrected President Donald Trump regarding European countries’ aid to Ukraine.
The two leaders met at the White House on Monday and discussed various matters – including assistance for the war-torn country nearly three years after Russia’s invasion. Trump has been pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to cede some of the country’s minerals to the U.S. in exchange for aid, though Zelensky is not keen on the idea.
On Monday, the U.S. voted against a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion in a move very much in line with Trump’s aversion to antagonizing Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Trump has referred to Zelensky as a “dictator.”
Trump has long criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine and has demanded European countries do more to shoulder the burden. During a joint appearance in front of reporters at the White House, a reporter asked Macron whether France supports the U.S. being compensated for assistance.
“I support the idea to have Ukraine, first, being compensated because they are the ones who have [lost] a lot of their fellow citizen[s] and they’re being destroyed by these attacks,” he responded while noting that Russia is the aggressor. Trump followed up by saying Ukraine will repay the European countries sending assistance.
“Again, just so you understand, just so you understand, Europe is loaning the money to Ukraine,” Trump said. “They get their money back.”
Macron reached over to Trump with his left hand and put it on Trump’s arm.
“No, in fact, to be frank, we paid 60% of the total effort,” Macron interjected. “And it was through, like the U.S., loans guaranteed, grants, and we provided real money, to be clear. We have $230 billion [in] frozen assets in Europe, Russian assets. But this is not as a collateral of a loan because this is not our belonging. So, they are frozen. If at the end of the day in the negotiation we will have with Russia, they’re ready to give, to give it to us – super. It will be a loan at the end of the day and Russia will have paid for that.”
“If you believe that, it’s ok with me,” Trump protested. “But they get their money back. We don’t. And now we do. But you know, that’s only fair.”
Watch above via CNN.
