During a joint press conference in Washington, French President Emmanuel Macron awkwardly interrupted Donald Trump to correct him on Europe’s financial contributions to Ukraine. The exchange occurred when Trump claimed that European nations were only “loaning money to Ukraine” while the U.S. was giving financial aid without repayment.
Macron quickly stepped in, saying, “No, in fact. To be frank, we paid. We paid 60 percent of the total effort.” He emphasized that European countries had provided “real money”, not just loans, but also guarantees and grants, just as the U.S. had. Trump, appearing unfazed, responded to a journalist by saying, “If you believe that, it’s okay with me. But they get their money back, we don’t, and now we do.” Macron, refusing to let it go, countered, “In fact, we both do.”
The moment quickly gained attention online, with many praising Macron for fact-checking Trump in real time. One social media user commented, “A memorable moment in contrasting leadership communication.” Another wrote, “Trump just couldn’t say ‘I stand corrected,’ could he?”
Macron also mentioned that discussions were ongoing for a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, but he stressed that “peace deals must not be a surrender of Ukraine.” Trump, meanwhile, has focused on the financial burden of the war, arguing that the U.S. should prioritize its own economic interests.
