‘He doesn’t merit a response’: Macron hits back after Trump mocks his marriage

French President, Emmanuel Macron has dismissed mocking remarks made by the U.S. President, Donald Trump about his marriage, saying the comments do not deserve a response.

The exchange followed comments Trump made during a private lunch in Washington where he criticised European allies for what he described as a lack of support for the United States in the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

While recounting attempts to secure assistance from European partners, Trump said he had called Macron to request that France send naval support to the Persian Gulf.

“I call up France, Macron — whose wife treats him extremely badly,” Trump said while narrating the conversation.

Trump claimed he asked the French leader to deploy ships immediately to support U.S. operations in the Gulf, but Macron declined, saying France could only assist after the war had already been won.

“He said, ‘No, no, no, we cannot do that. We can do it after the war is won,’” Trump said. “I said, ‘I don’t need them after the war is won.’”

Trump’s remark about Macron’s wife appeared to reference a viral video from 2025 that circulated widely online. The clip, filmed during a diplomatic visit to Vietnam, showed Macron’s wife, Brigitte Macron, briefly pushing his face as the couple prepared to exit a plane.

The moment quickly spread across social media, with some users suggesting it looked like she had slapped him.

Macron later downplayed the incident, saying the moment had been misinterpreted and describing it as playful interaction between him and his wife rather than an argument.

The footage resurfaced in public discussion after Trump’s comments, adding another layer to the ongoing exchange between the two leaders.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to South Korea, Macron criticised Trump’s remarks but made clear he would not engage further.

“So I am not going to respond to them — they do not merit a response,” Macron said.

He also suggested that leaders should focus on more pressing global issues rather than personal attacks, particularly as tensions remain high over the conflict involving Iran.

RELATED: Trump mocks Macron, claims French president’s wife “treats him extremely badly” while recalling Iran war support request

The public exchange highlights growing disagreements between Washington and some European leaders over the handling of the crisis and the role of Western allies in the conflict.

Macron has repeatedly called for diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the region, while Trump has continued to criticise European governments for what he sees as insufficient support for U.S. military actions.