Tag: Political positions of Donald Trump

On Wednesday, before a joint session of of Congress, the charismatic French leader turned around and repudiated the US President's political philosophy and worldview. Macron wants to bind the Trump administration into the existing Western international system, to convince it to dive back into multilateral efforts to shut down Iran's nuclear program, to battle climate change and to safeguard globalization and free trade. "We can choose isolationism, withdrawal and nationalism. He said no one should take transatlantic ties or common values for granted, warning that the liberal internationalism was under siege, raising the need for a new 21st Century world order based on fundamental values, the rule of law and human rights. Macron called on the United States to embrace a return to multilateralism -- a creed most post-war US presidents have pursued, but which Trump has derided by pulling out of the Paris climate deal and criticizing global trade pacts, while arguing the rest of the world is ripping America off. "This requires more than ever the United States involvement as your role was decisive for creating and safeguarding this free world," Macron said. "We signed it, both the United States and France. He called for differences on trade imbalances and over capacity to be worked out through the World Trade Organization -- the exact opposite approach to Trump's threats of tariff wars. Macron appeared to be gambling that his rhetorical repudiation of much of Trump's philosophy would not filter through or anger the US President, who is more susceptible to visuals and symbolism than complicated ideological arguments. In that sense, Macron's speech could also be seen as a possible attempt to insulate himself from any future political damage back home following his stunning love fest with Trump -- who is deeply unpopular in Europe -- on Wednesday.