Trump’s secret jibe at ‘vain’ Emmanuel Macron sparks laughter among world leaders: report

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, EGYPT: French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly faced fresh humiliation after sources told Daily Mail that President Donald Trump secretly mocked him, drawing laughter from other world leaders.

The incident adds to Macron’s troubles, as he battles sinking approval ratings and mounting calls for his resignation back home.

Trump mocks Emmanuel Macron’s absence during peace summit in Egypt

The awkward moment unfolded on October 13 in Egypt, where world leaders had gathered to celebrate the historic peace agreement mediated by President Donald Trump between Israel and Hamas.

While thanking the assembled leaders for their support, Trump noted the absence of the French president from the stage. “France, thank you very much,” Trump began, before adding, “Emmanuel, I would imagine that Emmanuel is standing someplace behind me, where is he?”

After Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pointed out Macron in the crowd, Trump quipped, “I can't believe it, you're taking a low-key approach today.”

The remark drew laughter from world leaders, many of whom were reportedly familiar with Macron’s reputation for "vanity" and his habit of positioning himself as an equal among other powerful figures. 

One source close to Daily Mail said, “It was the perfect gibe because Macron is well known for grandstanding and vanity.” The source added that although it was a “friendly ribbing,” the French leader “felt the burn in the French press.” 

Trump asserts dominance in viral handshake with Emmanuel Macron

Following the public mockery, Emmanuel Macron greeted Donald Trump on the sidelines in what has now become one of their “legendary long handshakes.” This time, however, Trump appeared to assert dominance. For 26 seconds, he held Macron firmly, pulling him close while whispering in his ear and guiding his movements, even gesturing for the French president to face the cameras when Macron tried to turn away.

Peter Rough, Director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia at the Hudson Institute, said, “It is expected of the President de la Republique that he appears as a peer of the US president, and Macron has sought to live up to the test, including with such seemingly minor things as handshakes.”

Trump’s Gaza triumph overshadows Emmanuel Macron’s failed diplomacy

The humiliation extended beyond personal interactions, as Donald Trump’s success in brokering the Gaza peace agreement was viewed as a “humiliation for Macron” following the French president’s failed attempts to isolate the American leader on the world stage.

Macron had previously led the push for major European powers to recognize the state of Palestine at the September UN Summit, an initiative that sources close to Trump told Daily Mail he dismissed as “pointless virtue signaling that would not end in a peace deal.”

Trump himself openly brushed off Macron’s efforts at the time, telling journalists, “What he says doesn’t matter.” The French president also pushed back against Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize nomination, saying, “The Nobel Peace Prize is only possible if you stop this conflict,” a comment widely interpreted as a jab at the president. 

Even after the ceasefire success and several world leaders, including Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Argentine President Javier Milei, publicly nominating Trump for the honor, Macron has shown no indication he intends to do the same.

With his second term set to end in 2027, insiders are now questioning how Macron will conclude his nearly decade-long, often turbulent relationship with the president, and whether he might ultimately nominate Trump for the peace prize next year.