Europe 1 with AFP 06:38, April 12, 2023

Donald Trump, in an interview with the Fox News channel, accused French President Emmanuel Macron of "licking the ass" of Xi Jinping, the current Chinese president. Crude words, like the reactions in recent days after the remarks of the French head of state "not to be followed" by China or the United States.

Donald Trump accused French President Emmanuel Macron of "licking the ass" of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping after his visit to Beijing, in an interview broadcast on Tuesday. Emmanuel Macron is under fire after his remarks calling on the European Union not to be "follower" of America or China on the question of Taiwan, pronounced after his stay in Asia.

"Macron, who is a friend, is with China licking his ass," the former US president said in an interview with Fox News, referring to the Chinese leader. Donald Trump has accused the administration of his successor Joe Biden of having significantly weakened the leadership of the United States on the international stage, to the point of losing the support of its traditional allies.

The Biden administration seeks to de-dramatize the situation

"You have this crazy world, exploding everywhere, and the United States has absolutely no say," Trump said. "I was like, 'Okay! The France is going to China now!'" the billionaire said.

The Biden administration had sought Monday to play down the controversy, saying that the United States had a "tremendous bilateral relationship" with the France. Faced with the outcry, the Elysee defended the position of the French president, believing that Europe "must be able to make its singular voice heard".