French President Emmanuel Macron tore into “nationalism” in an apparent jab at President Trump during his Armistice Day remarks in Paris.
Speaking Sunday at the Arc de Triomphe beside Trump and other world leaders, Macron decried nationalism as “a betrayal of patriotism.”
“Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism,” Macron said. “Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. By saying our interests first … we erase what a nation holds dearest, what gives it life, what gives it grace, and what is essential: its moral values.”
{mosads}Trump has faced criticism for referring to himself as a nationalist, comments that he doubled down on last week during a press conference.
When asked about his use of the phrase, which often has racist connotations due to the use of “white nationalist,” Trump said “we have to straighten out our country first.”
He then criticized the reporter, Yamiche Alcindor of “PBS NewsHour”, saying her question was racist.
Macron’s comments on Sunday came after the White House canceled Trump’s planned visit to a U.S. military cemetery in northern France due to bad weather.
The move drew a steady stream of domestic and international criticism.
Upon landing in Paris days earlier, Trump also knocked Macron in a tweet, calling the French president’s suggestion of a “true, European army” to defend itself without relying on the U.S. “very insulting.”