President Donald Trump recently expressed disapproval of France’s celebrations commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II. During a speech to American troops stationed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Trump highlighted the significant role the United States played in securing victory during the war. He suggested that the U.S. should place greater emphasis on its contributions, implying that the efforts of the United States were more pivotal than those of France.
Trump made a comparison to historical events, referencing Adolf Hitler’s infamous presence at the Eiffel Tower, and suggested that such moments were far from ideal for France. In a light-hearted manner, he recounted a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, where Macron was described as celebrating France’s triumph over Nazi Germany. Trump noted a discrepancy, pointing out that while many countries, including Russia and France, were holding commemorations, the United States had not done so to the same extent.
He argued that the absence of American celebrations was regrettable, given the pivotal role the U.S. played in the war’s outcome. Trump emphasized the hypothetical scenario where, without American intervention, victory might not have been achieved, suggesting that Europe could have faced a different linguistic and cultural landscape without U.S. involvement. He remarked that without American efforts, the world might have been speaking German, or even Japanese, today.
The French foreign ministry has been contacted for a response to Trump’s comments, but as of now, no official statement has been released. This situation is developing, and further updates are anticipated as more information becomes available.
