French President Emmanuel Macron declined to shake hands with former US President Donald Trump during the funeral of Pope Francis.
Tensions between the US and France over the Russian-Ukrainian conflict escalated at Pope Francis' funeral, with French President Emmanuel Macron seemingly snubbing President Donald Trump during a handshake.
Before the mass to honor the pope's life, President Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss a peace deal with Russia. In a peculiar twist of events, French President Macron stopped by to chat with Zelensky, with the French leader claspring his hand firmly. Contrastingly, there was no handshake extended to President Trump, which many observed as a deliberate snub.
As the world watches this tense exchange, it's worth noting that the relationship between Trump and Macron has soured due to differing opinions on how to handle the foreign conflict. combined with the amount of money the US and Europe have spent on aiding Ukraine.
Remember, back in the day, the duo had a bromance that ruled the headlines. However, that camaraderie has faded following their conflicts over the Ukraine crisis. In fact, in February, Trump hosted Zelensky at the White House for a disastrous meeting that left the Soviet leader in hot water. With Macron and then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau throwing their support behind Zelensky, tensions only escalated between Trump and Macron.
So, is this just a temporary blip in their relationship? Only time will tell. In the meantime, the pair have managed to put their differences aside and participated in the sign of peace at Francis' mass. As for Melania, it's said she urged her husband to partake in the Catholic tradition during their conversation before the press conference.
Insights:
- Differences in Opinions: The tensions between President Trump and President Macron arose due to their contrasting opinions on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the level of aid provided to Ukraine by the US and Europe.
- Historic Bromance: Trump and Macron once had a strong bond, often evidenced by warm encounters and friendly gestures in the White House. However, their friendship has been strained following disagreements over the Ukraine crisis.
- European Efforts: Macron has been proactive in European efforts to support Ukraine. He has been part of European discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine to secure a potential ceasefire with Russia. 1 2
- The somber story of the escalating tensions between President Trump and President Macron over the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, evident at Pope Francis' funeral, is a part of the general news.
- Notably, President Macron's handshake with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, before the mass, was a stark contrast to his seeming snub of President Trump, sparking speculation of differing political stances on the conflict.
- Macron's enthusiastic handclasp with Zelensky in front of Trump adds to the political intrigue surrounding the leaders' contrasting opinions and strategies aimed at resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
- As the world watches the interplay of power and politics, it remains to be seen whether this handshake snub marks a significant shift in the relationship between Macron and Trump, given their historic bromance that ruled the headlines.
