On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron called out President Donald Trump while they were sitting together in the Oval Office, in a moment that left Trump visibly frustrated.
Trump made a claim that Europe was “loaning” money to Ukraine and would expect repayment once a peace deal with Russia is reached, suggesting that European countries had less to lose because they would get their money back eventually.
Macron wasn’t having it. He interrupted Trump by touching his arm, then corrected him. He explained that the money given to Ukraine to help fight off Russia was not a loan—it was assistance, and any funds returned would come from Russia’s frozen assets, not Europe.
Macron also pointed out that European countries, not the U.S., had been the main financial supporters of Ukraine during the war. “No, in fact, to be frank, we paid,” Macron told Trump. “We paid 60 percent of the total effort, and it was through, like the U.S., loans, guarantee, grants, and we provided real money, to be clear.”
Trump smirked and seemed to wave off the 60 percent figure, suggesting it was not exact. He nodded and appeared to say “OK,” as Macron continued to explain.
This exchange comes as Trump’s stance on Russia has shifted recently. Just days before, the U.S. voted against a United Nations resolution calling for Russian troops to leave Ukraine, which marked the three-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion. This vote put the U.S. at odds with allies like France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, and instead aligned the U.S. with countries like Russia, North Korea, and Belarus.
During the meeting, Macron maintained strong support for Ukraine. He called Russia the clear “aggressor” in the conflict, a stance that had previously been shared by the U.S. government until Trump recently changed his position. Trump has recently shifted blame for the war onto Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Despite the differences in their positions, both leaders spoke in favor of a potential peace deal, with discussions about the future distribution of valuable minerals in Ukraine and Russia possibly being part of any agreement.
Watch the clip below.
Macron just grabbed Trump’s arm and fact-checked him to his face in real time.
More of this please. pic.twitter.com/IIUhaHXmkY
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) February 24, 2025
