Macron fires back at Trump's 'right to the jaw' jab at wife Brigitte: 'It doesn't deserve an answer'

PARIS, FRANCE: French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, April 2, sharply criticised US President Donald Trump over a personal dig targeting his wife, Brigitte Macron, and their marriage, calling the comments “neither elegant nor of a high standard.”

The remarks, made by Trump during a private White House lunch, briefly surfaced in a video posted online before being taken down.

Macron, however, declined to escalate the exchange, saying the comments did not merit a response. “It doesn’t deserve an answer,” he said, adopting a measured tone even as the episode drew widespread attention in France and beyond.

Controversial comment adds to diplomatic strain

Trump’s remark referenced a previously circulated video from 2025 showing an interaction between Macron and his wife during an overseas trip, an incident the French president had earlier dismissed as light-hearted. 

“We didn’t need them, but I asked anyway,” he said, adding, “I call up France, [Emmanuel] Macron, whose wife treats him extremely badly. Still recovering from the right to the jaw.”

The US president made the comment while criticising NATO allies for refusing to join American and Israeli military operations against Iran, adding a personal aside that quickly drew backlash.

French opposition leaders condemned the remarks as “unacceptable,” arguing they fell beneath the dignity of the presidency and risked undermining diplomatic norms at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.

War in Iran widens rift between allies

The exchange comes amid growing friction between Washington and European allies over the conflict with Iran.

France has declined to participate in military strikes, prompting criticism from Trump, who has also pressed NATO members to take a more active role in securing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route disrupted by the conflict.

Macron, in his response, sought to refocus attention on the broader stakes, highlighting the human and economic costs of the war.

He pointed to rising energy prices and civilian casualties as issues demanding serious engagement, contrasting them with what he implied were distractions from pressing global concerns.