In Paris, Donald Trump stood alone as old allegiances were laid bare
- For US President Donald Trump in Paris, America First meant largely America alone
- Trump sat stony-faced as the French president spoke bluntly of the threat from nationalism
US President Donald Trump likes to throw Twitter bombs that explode in concentric circles of offensiveness. He delivers speeches that contain insults and falsehoods. He announces policies on a whim, some constitutionally questionable.
But on a trip to Europe, the president hardly said a word – and he still managed to outrage at almost every turn.
Aside from a critical tweet aimed at French President Emmanuel Macron when Trump landed in Paris late Friday – one based on an inaccurate newspaper summary of an interview Macron gave suggesting that he had called the United States a threat – Trump did not throw any sharp elbows at his peers here. It was still all about him.
In this case, it was because of the images.
He looked uncomfortable and listless in a bilateral meeting with Macron, whose sinewy energy stood in stark contrast to Trump’s downbeat expression as the French leader patted him on the thigh.
He was a no-show at a scheduled tour of a military cemetery for Americans, while other world leaders publicly paid homage to those who died on the battlefield.