NORTHWOOD (Reuters) — France and Britain on Thursday agreed to reinforce cooperation over their respective nuclear arsenals as the two European powerhouses seek to respond to growing threats to the continent and uncertainty over their U.S. ally.
The announcement came after French President Emmanuel Macron concluded a three-day state visit to Britain, where the two allies sought to turn the page on years of turbulence following Britain&#8217;s decision to withdraw from the European Union.
&#8220;This morning, we signed the Northward declaration, confirming for the first time that we are coordinating our independent nuclear deterrence,&#8221; British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told a news conference alongside Macron.
&#8220;From today, our adversaries will know that any extreme threat to this continent would prompt a response from our two nations. There is no greater demonstration of the importance of this relationship.&#8221;
U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s questioning of burden-sharing in NATO and his overtures to Russia have led to existential questions in Europe about the trans-Atlantic relationship and Washington&#8217;s commitment to helping defend its European allies.
Europe&#8217;s primary nuclear deterrence comes from the United States and is a decades-old symbol of trans-Atlantic solidarity.
Macron said the two countries had created an oversight committee to coordinate their cooperation, a task he said was vital.
&#8220;The decision is that we don&#8217;t exclude the coordination of our respective deterrents. It&#8217;s a message that our partners and adversaries must hear,&#8221; Macron said.
The closer cooperation had nothing to do with their efforts to create a coalition of the willing to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia, he added.
While both sides will keep their own decision-making processes and strategic ambiguity, the move does suggest further protection for the continent at a time when the United States&#8217; commitment to Europe is under scrutiny.
Macron has previously said he will launch a strategic dialogue on extending the protection offered by France&#8217;s nuclear arsenal to its European partners.
The U.S. has nuclear arms in Europe and tens of thousands of troops deployed in bases across the continent with military capabilities that Europe cannot match.
France spends about 5.6 billion euros ($6.04 billion) annually on maintaining its stockpile of 290 submarine- and air-launched nuclear weapons, the world&#8217;s fourth largest.
Britain describes its nuclear programme as &#8220;operationally independent,&#8221; but sources missile technology from the U.S. and depends on the U.S. for acquisition and maintenance support.
&#8220;On the nuclear agreement that we&#8217;ve reached today &#8230; it is truly historic,&#8221; Starmer said.
(Additional reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Writing by John Irish; Editing by Aidan Lewis)

France’s President Macron State visit to the UK

France, Britain Unveil Nuclear Weapons Cooperation To Counter Threat To Europe

Britain

Emmanuel Macron

Europe

France

Keir Starmer

Nuclear Weapons

U.S.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday morning that he has not reached out to Iran for peace talks, denying earlier reports. 
Trump made the comments on Truth Social after it was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-to-leave-g7-early-over-whats-going-on-in-the-middle-east-white-house-says?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Leaves+G7+Early+Over+‘What’s+Going+On+In+The+Middle+East%2C’+White+House+Says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that he was leaving the Group of Seven Summit in Canada early to return to the White House because of the conflict in the Middle East. In an earlier post, Trump said he was not working on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but something “much bigger.” 
“I have not reached out to Iran for ‘Peace Talks’ in any way, shape, or form. This is just more HIGHLY FABRICATED, FAKE NEWS! If they want to talk, they know how to reach me,” Trump posted. “They should have taken the deal that was on the table — Would have saved a lot of lives!!!”
Trump had imposed a 60-day deadline for Iran to negotiate a nuclear agreement with the United States that had elapsed before Israel launched its attack last week. 
Trump went on to criticize French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday morning for suggesting that he was returning to Washington, D.C., to work out a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. 
“Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a ‘cease fire’ between Israel and Iran,” Trump wrote. “Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!”
When asked on board Air Force One what he meant by promising something more than a ceasefire, Trump said he wanted, &#8220;An end. A real end. Not a ceasefire.” He added that “giving up entirely” would also be an option. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
REPORTER: &#8220;What are you looking for here?&#8221;<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &#8220;An end. A real end. Not a ceasefire — an end.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/EESQ7zzhw1">pic.twitter.com/EESQ7zzhw1</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1934917749391687794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I told them to do the deal. They should&#8217;ve done the deal. Their cities have been blown to pieces and they&#8217;ve lost a lot of people. They should&#8217;ve done the deal,” Trump told reporters. 
On Monday night, Trump administration spokespeople denied reports that the United States was directly attacking Iran amid widespread speculation online. 
“This is not true. American forces are maintaining their defensive posture, and that has not changed. We will defend American interests,” Principal Deputy Communications Director Alex Pfeiffer said. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is not true. American forces are maintaining their defensive posture, and that has not changed. We will defend American interests. <a href="https://t.co/XqWbDvzif0">https://t.co/XqWbDvzif0</a>
— Alex Pfeiffer (@Pfeiffer47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pfeiffer47/status/1934767323333714181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell <a href="https://x.com/SeanParnellATSD/status/1934768120549286184" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made</a> a similar statement. 
“American Forces are maintaining their defensive posture &amp; that has not changed,” he said. “We will protect American troops &amp; our interests.”

G7 Leaders’ Summit

Trump Says He Has Not Reached Out To Iran For Peace Talks In ‘Any Way, Shape, Or Form’

Ceasefire

Donald Trump

Executive

Global Politics

Iran

Israel

Middle East

Politics

The New York Times, a former newspaper, has obtained a document from the Democrat party outlining their plan to spend $20 million in an effort to win back male voters. The effort is being hailed as a continuation of the great Democrat tradition of wasting money without even beginning to solve a problem created by their own stupid ideas.
The document, entitled “How to Make Toxic Men Love Us Even As we Castrate their Sons and Turn Their Women into Fractious Whores,” includes a collection of ideas from a diverse committee of women, black women, men pretending to be black women and feminists who are sort of like women only feminist. The effort is being hailed as a continuation of the great Democrat tradition of forming committees on the basis of diversity and thus laying the groundwork for a hilarious catastrophe that was predictable to everyone except a diverse committee.
To add an international flavor to the committee, the Democrats reached out to French President Emmanuel Macron, who said, “I think in order to properly study men, we need to…” But he couldn’t finish, because his wife smacked him in the face.
At the heart of the Democrat’s effort is an attempt to learn how to speak to potential male voters by studying liberal men in their native habitats, like gay bars and the ballet. This attempt comes on the heels of the failed presidential campaign of what’s-her-name, that cackling semi-black girl, who chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate because of his ability to code-switch from talking like a homosexual serial killer to talking like a homosexual serial killer trying to sound like a regular guy.
In the wake of that failure, the Democrats hope to learn how to communicate with men online by — and, my hand to God, this is a real quote — “studying the syntax, language and content that gains attention and virality in men’s spaces.’” So, for instance, instead of just bluntly telling men it’s time for them to take a backseat and let women lead the way into a glorious female future of unreasoning chatter followed by helpless sobbing interrupted by snapping at anyone who tries to make them feel better, Democrats might now attempt to gain attention and virality by posting such male-coded messages as, “Hey, Bro, how about giving the chicks a chance for a change, and meanwhile pass me the soap with those attractive, muscular arms of yours.”
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1232-this-is-fine?elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+Show+Episodes+Carousel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH: The Andrew Klavan Show</a></h3>
To ensure their new man language is not limited to English-speakers, Democrats interviewed French President Emmanuel Macron, who said, “I believe in order to speak with men, you have to…” But he was unable to finish, because his wife smacked him in the face.
The document also suggests the party might want to change its hectoring tone of school-marmish moralizing, just in case that alienates some men or causes them to projectile vomit their last three beers into the face of the first Democrat they see. In order to help them stop moralizing, the Democrats have appointed a diverse committee to run a $50 million study entitled “What is Morality, and How is it Different from Sexually Mutilating Children in order to Pretend Gender is a Social Construct?” 
In a further effort to communicate with men, the Democrats are seeking to create a &#8220;new Joe Rogan&#8221; to head a popular male-oriented podcast. After a $75 million study by a diverse committee, the Democrats discovered that Rogan actually used to be a Democrat himself until he found out the Democrats were a bunch of Communist perverts. The Democrats feel they can fix that problem by replacing Rogan with some other bald man with a lot of tattoos, and hoping no one notices the difference.
To internationalize the appeal of the new Democrat Rogan, the Democrats sought advice from French president Emmanuel Macron, who said, “The whole secret to Joe Rogan is that…” But he was unable to finish because his wife smacked him in the face.
More recently, in a controversial move, the Democrats decided to add a man to their diverse study committee and, after a great deal of debate, they finally appointed Emmanuel Macron’s wife.
* * *
This excerpt is taken from the opening satirical monologue of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-andrew-klavan-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Andrew Klavan Show</a>.”
The views expressed in this satirical article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Andrew Klavan is the host of “The Andrew Klavan Show” at The Daily Wire. Follow him on X: <a href="https://x.com/andrewklavan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@andrewklavan</a>
Klavan is the bestselling author of numerous books, including the Cameron Winter Mystery series. The fourth installment, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1613165536?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_thcv_3&amp;storeType=ebooks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Woman Underground.</a>” His most recent nonfiction release is “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Cain-Finding-Literature-Darkness/dp/0310368340/?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_w=nMYjR&amp;content-id=amzn1.sym.bc3ba8d1-5076-4ab7-9ba8-a5c6211e002d&amp;pf_rd_p=bc3ba8d1-5076-4ab7-9ba8-a5c6211e002d&amp;pf_rd_r=133-8344803-2786917&amp;pd_rd_wg=7a8J3&amp;pd_rd_r=5791ea0f-6d96-4732-9d6a-3a4e6b348bb5&amp;ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Kingdom of Cain: Finding God in the Literature of Darkness.</a>” (May 2025, Zondervan/HarperCollins).

Emmanuel Macron et Brigitte Macron

Democrats Ask Brigitte Macron: What Is A Man?

Andrew Klavan

Brigitte Macron

Democrats

Humor

Opinion

Satire

Voters

President Donald Trump weighed in on the viral video showing French first lady Brigitte Macron shoving her husband in the face, President Emmanuel Macron, offering some presidential wisdom to his French counterpart: “Make sure the door remains closed.”
Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked Trump at a Friday press conference with Elon Musk if he had any &#8220;world leader to world leader marital advice&#8221; for the Macrons following the incident.
Trump&#8217;s response was characteristically direct and light-hearted. “Make sure the door remains closed,” he said, before adding, “That was … not good.”
“I spoke to [Macron], he’s fine, they’re fine, they’re two really good people, I know them very well,” Trump added. “I don’t know what that was all about, but I know them very well, and they’re fine.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
“This week there was a video on board a plane that showed the First Lady of France slapping her husband, Emmanuel Macron. Do you have any world leader to world leader marital advice?”
President Trump: “Make sure the door remains closed.”
😂😂😂 <a href="https://t.co/dSuFuvdU0I">pic.twitter.com/dSuFuvdU0I</a>
&mdash; TheBlaze (@theblaze) <a href="https://twitter.com/theblaze/status/1928523638539473087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Later in the press conference, Elon Musk referenced the Macron incident after being asked by a reporter about a visible bruise above his eye, with Musk joking, &#8220;Well, I wasn&#8217;t anywhere near France,&#8221; and that the injury was from playful roughhousing with his son, X.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday&amp;_gl=1*1qdq03s*_gcl_au*MTYyNDg0MTE0OS4xNzQxODk4NTMz*_ga*MTEzOTk1NjkxNi4xNzI2MzI1MDQz*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*czE3NDgzNzg2NDgkbzEwMDMkZzEkdDE3NDgzODEwMTckajU4JGwwJGgw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Elon Musk, asked in the Oval why he has a bruise near his eye, jokes, &quot;Well I wasn&#39;t anywhere near France.&quot; 
Then says it&#39;s from rough housing with his son, X.
&mdash; Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1928522011673841867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The joke, unfortunately, flew right over the reporter&#8217;s head, who attempted to make Musk explain the joke.
As The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/french-kiss-macron-gets-shoved-in-the-face-by-his-wife-on-camera">reported</a>, the embarrassing moment for French President Emmanuel Macron went viral on Monday, with a video showing just before Macron and his wife Brigitte — who is 25 years his senior — exited a plane in Vietnam, she appeared to shove him directly in the face.
Macron appeared to panic upon realizing the incident was visible for the media to see, turning to the cameras with a nonchalant smile and wave as if nothing had happened.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
French Pres. Emmanuel Macron appeared to be pushed in the face by his wife Brigitte Macron as they arrived in Vietnam, the first stop of a Southeast Asia tour. <a href="https://t.co/nqzICGPpeY">https://t.co/nqzICGPpeY</a> <a href="https://t.co/VQnNSpMm1K">pic.twitter.com/VQnNSpMm1K</a>
&mdash; ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1926963047337246897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Macron dismissed the incident, telling reporters, “I was bickering, or rather joking, with my wife. It’s nothing.” An Elysee official echoed, “It was a moment when the president and his wife were relaxing one last time before the start of the trip by having a laugh.”

President Trump Holds Press Conference With Elon Musk in White House’s Oval Office

Trump Gives The Macrons Some Marital Advice After Viral Face Shove

Elon Musk

French President Emmanuel Macron denied Monday that he and his wife, Brigitte, were in a domestic dispute that was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/french-kiss-macron-gets-shoved-in-the-face-by-his-wife-on-camera?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=French+Kiss%3A+Macron+Gets+Shoved+In+The+Face+By+His+Wife+%E2%80%94+On+Camera" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caught on camera</a> and blamed &#8220;the Russians&#8221; for the rumors circulating over the video. 
The incident happened just after the Macrons touched down for a visit to Vietnam, which the French leader hoped would showcase France’s reach into the Indo-Pacific. The now-viral video, shot by the Associated Press, overshadowed their visit and appears to show the first lady shoving her fingernails into the president’s face. After collecting himself, Macron turns to wave through the open door of the plane before descending the stairs with his wife. 
President Macron claims he and the First Lady were “joking,” <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250526-just-joking-macron-denies-dispute-with-wife-blames-disinformation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">France 24</a> reported, and that he was “taken by surprise.” Macron then blamed “the Russians” for manipulating networks to prop up these rumors. He referred to the virality of the clip as a “planetary catastrophe,” but said that people are blowing the incident out of proportion. 
The incident comes after Macron <a href="https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/europe/macron-cocaine-starmer-putin-b2749218.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shot down</a> a rumor pushed by a Russian official that he was doing cocaine on a trip to Kyiv with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
&#8220;When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs,&#8221; the Elysee stated. &#8220;This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs.
This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation. <a href="https://t.co/xyXhGm9Dsr">pic.twitter.com/xyXhGm9Dsr</a>
&mdash; Élysée (@Elysee) <a href="https://twitter.com/Elysee/status/1921676720995782761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Russia&#8217;s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who pushed the cocaine allegations, said that Macron&#8217;s advisors would attempt to claim that Russia was behind the &#8220;right hook from his wife.&#8221; 
“Maybe it was the ‘hand of the Kremlin?’” Zakharova said sarcastically, <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250526-just-joking-macron-denies-dispute-with-wife-blames-disinformation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">French 24</a> reported. 
The age-gap marriage between Macron, 47, and his wife, 72, has long been under scrutiny, leading to many rumors of the couple’s alleged rocky relationship as well as claims that the first lady is actually a man. Brigitte Macron has taken legal action to counter these rumors and has been <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/09/12/brigitte-macron-awarded-damages-from-women-who-spread-false-claim-she-is-transgender_6725808_7.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">awarded</a> damages from people spreading the claims that she is transgender.

TOPSHOT-VIETNAM-FRANCE-DIPLOMACY

French President Blames ‘The Russians’ For Rumors Over Video Of First Lady’s Face-Shove

Russia

In an embarrassing moment for French President Emmanuel Macron, just before he and his wife Brigitte — who is 25 years his senior  — exited a plane in Vietnam, she shoved him directly in the face.
What made the moment hilarious was that Macron was facing his wife rather than the doorway off the plane and did not appear to know the doorway had opened. But when she shoved his face, it turned his head 90 degrees so he was facing out the door. He immediately realized he could be seen and waved and smiled before heading back toward his wife.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
French Pres. Emmanuel Macron appeared to be pushed in the face by his wife Brigitte Macron as they arrived in Vietnam, the first stop of a Southeast Asia tour. <a href="https://t.co/nqzICGPpeY">https://t.co/nqzICGPpeY</a> <a href="https://t.co/VQnNSpMm1K">pic.twitter.com/VQnNSpMm1K</a>
&mdash; ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1926963047337246897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
On the one hand I feel bad for Macron. That’s humiliating to get attacked by your wife’s claws while the cameras are rolling.
But on the other hand, that terror-supporting brat deserves it…
As they say, couldn’t have happened to a better man, right?<a href="https://t.co/XRIF0OtSz3">pic.twitter.com/XRIF0OtSz3</a>
&mdash; Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarinaMedvin/status/1926966165298962815?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
Macron <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/elysee-plays-down-apparent-shove-macron-wife-vietnam-2025-05-26/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dismissed the incident</a>, telling reporters, &#8220;I was bickering, or rather joking, with my wife. It&#8217;s nothing.&#8221; An Elysee official echoed, “It was a moment when the president and his wife were relaxing one last time before the start of the trip by having a laugh.”
Visiting the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, “Macron emphasized the need for ‘an order based on law’ at a time of ‘both great imbalance and a return to power-driven rhetoric and intimidation,’” ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/frances-macron-visit-vietnam-urges-greater-cooperation-defense-122191313?cid=social_twitter_abcn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. France and Vietnam signed deals worth more than $10 billion after President Donald Trump threatened to impose 50% tariffs on European Union goods starting July 9.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Memorial Day Sale – Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
Macron joined the leaders of the United Kingdom and Canada on May 19 to demand that Israel stop the expansion of military operations in Gaza that are designed to eliminate the terrorist group Hamas. The <a href="https://www.elysee.fr/en/emmanuel-macron/2025/05/19/joint-statement-from-the-leaders-of-the-united-kingdom-france-and-canada-on-the-situation-in-gaza-and-the-west-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> demanded that a cease-fire be implemented and a two-state solution created, saying, “We are committed to recognizing a Palestinian state.”
In April, Macron iterated that he wanted EU businesses to stop investing in America after President Trump imposed tariffs on the European Union. “It is important that future investments, the investments announced over the last few weeks, should be put on hold for some time until we have clarified things with the United States of America,” Macron <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/macron-eu-companies-should-freeze-investment-in-the-u-s-until-trump-calms-down/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “What message would we send by having major European players investing billions of euros in the American economy at a time when [the U.S.] are hitting us?”
French billionaire Bernard Arnault <a href="https://videos.senat.fr/video.5409997_682ddabf64695.aides-aux-grandes-entreprises--audition-de-bernard-arnault" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fired back</a>, “I think it&#8217;s very bad for the state to meddle in the management of private companies. It usually leads to disaster. I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s a good idea to take advice like that, wherever it comes from.”

VIETNAM-FRANCE-DIPLOMACY

French Kiss: Macron Gets Shoved In The Face By His Wife — On Camera

Vietnam

World

President Donald Trump marked six weeks in office on Friday as his administration continued to aggressively implement his agenda at home and seek peace abroad.
This week, Trump turned his attention to the war in Ukraine, capping the week with an explosive on-camera shouting match in the Oval Office with the Ukrainian president.
Here are this week&#8217;s highlights.
Foreign Leaders
On Friday, Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. The visit was friendly until an Oval Office meeting devolved into an heated argument between Trump, Zelensky, and Vice President JD Vance in front of media cameras.
The back and forth began when Zelensky interrupted questions from the press to challenge Vance on diplomacy with Russia.
&#8220;During the war, everybody has problems, even you, but you have nice ocean and don&#8217;t feel now, but you will feel it in the future. God bless, you will not have war,&#8221; Zelensky told Vance.
&#8220;Don&#8217;t tell us what we&#8217;re going to feel. We&#8217;re trying to solve a problem,&#8221; Trump interrupted, adding, &#8220;you don&#8217;t have the cards right now&#8221; and accusing Zelensky of &#8220;gambling with the lives of millions of people.&#8221;
The exchange went on for several minutes with Trump reminding Zelensky that the United States has sent Ukraine vital and expensive military equipment.
&#8220;Have you said thank you once?&#8221; Vance asked.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve empowered you to be a tough guy,&#8221; Trump told Zelensky. &#8220;You&#8217;re either going to make a deal, or we&#8217;re out.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Full exchange between Trump, Vance, Zelensky <a href="https://t.co/kT3SsqUd0M">pic.twitter.com/kT3SsqUd0M</a>
&mdash; Mairead Elordi (@JohnsonHildy) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnsonHildy/status/1895541735478214783?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Trump to Zelensky: &quot;You&#39;re either gonna make a deal, or we&#39;re out.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/XIc7QZL26L">pic.twitter.com/XIc7QZL26L</a>
&mdash; Mairead Elordi (@JohnsonHildy) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnsonHildy/status/1895560110178783659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Afterward, a joint press conference was canceled, and Trump asked Zelensky to leave the White House. The two presidents had also planned to sign a deal where Ukraine would trade rare minerals for defense help from the United States, but that signing was also canceled, leaving the deal in peril.
“I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations,” Trump wrote on Truth Social afterward. “I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Trump also hosted French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House on Monday. They displayed their friendly relationship with plenty of handshakes, but clashed on the Ukraine war.
Macron said &#8220;peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine,&#8221; while Trump emphasized how much money the United States has spent on aid to Ukraine and said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to make a deal.
Trump hosted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on Thursday, where Starmer <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/27/trump-presidency-news/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urged</a> Trump to continue supporting Ukraine, as well as not to put tariffs on the United Kingdom.
Trade and American Investment
Trump said China will be hit with an additional 10% tariff next week on top of the first 10% tariff Trump already imposed this month. The president cited China&#8217;s major role in fentanyl flowing into the United States.
Trump also said tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico will go into effect on March 4 &#8220;as scheduled,&#8221; saying those countries have not done enough to stop the flow of drugs into the United States either.
On Monday, Apple <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/02/apple-will-spend-more-than-500-billion-usd-in-the-us-over-the-next-four-years/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the tech giant will invest $500 billion in the Unites States over the next four years. Apple CEO Tim Cook <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1893048920047018379" target="_blank" rel="noopener">met</a> with Trump last week. The move will create 20,000 jobs in the United States and comes amid Trump&#8217;s tariffs aimed at encouraging United States manufacturing.
Trump also <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/addressing-the-threat-to-nationalsecurity-from-imports-of-copper/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> an executive order aimed at addressing national security threats from copper imports, saying copper products are &#8220;vital&#8221; for defense products and other technology. The order <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-warns-reliance-on-foreign-copper-poses-a-direct-threat-to-national-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">directs</a> the Commerce Secretary to look into tariffs on copper imports to encourage domestic production. The order also references China, the global leader in copper smelting and refining, saying China&#8217;s dominance &#8220;poses a direct threat to United States national security and economic stability.&#8221;
Immigration
Illegal crossings at the southern border are <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1892771191787508153" target="_blank" rel="noopener">down</a> to about 285 a day, 94% lower than in February a year ago, and migrants are <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/02/10/us-news/new-trend-of-migrants-turning-around-and-heading-back-toward-home-under-trump-border-crackdown/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> giving up and returning home <a href="https://apnews.com/article/panama-united-states-migration-trump-beb125ce0ecbebb2895ea9dd18c4c53b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">due</a>, in part, to the end of the Biden administration&#8217;s CBP One app.
Arrests inside the country are up 137% <a href="https://x.com/TriciaOhio/status/1891631396214493594" target="_blank" rel="noopener">compared</a> to a year ago. The illegal migrant criminals the administration has arrested <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/02/sick-politicians-want-killers-rapists-roaming-our-streets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">include</a> a Salvadoran migrant convicted of sodomy with a victim under 13, a Sudanese migrant convicted of rape of a victim under 13, and a Mexican migrant who had an order of removal from 2006 and was convicted of drunk driving resulting in a death.
On Thursday, the White House said 29 Mexican cartel members were extradited to the United States for prosecution, including a cartel boss who tortured and murdered a DEA agent in the 1980s.
Health Care
Trump <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/making-america-healthy-again-by-empowering-patients-with-clear-accurate-and-actionable-healthcare-pricing-information/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> an executive order aimed at making sure patients have clear and accurate information about the price of their health care. Several departments, including Health and Human Services, are directed to enforce new price transparency regulations to make sure hospitals and insurance companies disclose their actual prices, not estimates, and make prices comparable across the board, including prescription drug prices.
DOGE
Trump <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency-cost-efficiency-initiative/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a new executive order giving the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) more power to slash government spending.
The order tells federal agency heads to work with DOGE team leads to justify government spending over the next month, starting with investigating grants and contracts to educational institutions and foreign entities for waste, fraud, and abuse. Agency heads also have to explain taxpayer-funded conference travel and identify federal properties that are no longer needed. The order also freezes all agency credit cards except those for disaster relief or other critical services.
Meanwhile, one million federal workers responded to Elon Musk&#8217;s DOGE email asking them to describe five things they got done the week before.
The administration continues to slash the federal workforce, with thousands of employees <a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/tracking-federal-workforce-firings-dg/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">already</a> fired and more taking buyout offers.
Epstein Files
Attorney General Pam Bondi tried to release the FBI&#8217;s files on millionaire sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein, but she was stymied by the FBI allegedly withholding thousands of Epstein documents.
On Wednesday, Bondi said on Fox News that she hoped to release some Epstein files the next day. On Thursday, Bondi <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/right-wing-influencers-get-binders-labeled-the-epstein-files-but-downplay-revelations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gave</a> a group of right-wing influencers at the White House binders labeled &#8220;The Epstein Files: Phase 1.&#8221; However, the binders contained little new information, certainly not Epstein&#8217;s sex trafficking client list.
Bondi then <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pam-bondi-says-fbi-lied-to-her-about-turning-over-all-of-the-epstein-files" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused</a> the FBI of lying to her about turning over all the Epstein documents after someone at the FBI&#8217;s New York office told her there were thousands more documents.
Also this week, Bondi <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-pam-bondi-dismisses-dei-lawsuits-involving-police-officers-and-firefighters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the Justice Department has dropped several Biden-era DEI lawsuits against police and fire departments over their supposedly racist hiring practices such as written exams and credit checks.
Other Moves
Trump held his first official Cabinet meeting, which Elon Musk attended.
Trump <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1894500240863969327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1894500240863969327%7Ctwgr%5E8f59ae9134259fc75a25aea5ffa53ea38b57d4e5%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Ftrump-yanks-clearances-from-jack-smiths-team-scolds-reporter-worried-about-who-hes-targeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nixed</a> the security clearances of a law firm, Covington &amp; Burling LLP, that provided free legal services to Special Counsel Jack Smith&#8217;s office in the cases against Trump before the election.
“I was the target of corrupt politicians for four years, and then four years after that. So don’t talk to me about targeting,” Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-yanks-clearances-from-jack-smiths-team-scolds-reporter-worried-about-who-hes-targeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> a reporter at the signing.
On Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins <a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/agriculture-secretary-brooke-rollins-my-plan-to-lower-egg-prices-6be0f881" target="_blank" rel="noopener">laid out</a> her plan to lower egg prices, an economic sticking point for years. The strategy will involve spending up to $1 billion to curb avian flu, protecting egg farmers from regulations like California&#8217;s minimum space requirements for hens, and considering temporary egg imports.
Vance, a Catholic, addressed the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast on Friday. The vice president said ahead of his remarks that during the election cycle, he was &#8220;moved to witness the joyful devotion&#8221; of Catholics &#8220;praying for the future and success of our country,&#8221; and &#8220;thanks to their faithful prayers, hope has returned to America again.&#8221;
Meanwhile, a new poll conducted last week <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/HHP_Feb2025_vFinal.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shows</a> Americans are more optimistic about the economy, more say their personal financial situation is improving, and a majority, 52% approve of the job Trump is doing as president.

US-BRITAIN-DIPLOMACY

Keeping Up With Trump: Here’s Everything The President Did In Week Six

Apple

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Health Care

Jeffrey Epstein

Tariffs

Trump Administration

Volodymyr Zelensky

Vice President JD Vance and his family spent the day in France, where Vance met with world leaders and delivered remarks at the Artificial Intelligence Summit.
In his <a href="https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1nAKEgmlPBgJL" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarks,</a> Vance portrayed the United States as the global leader of “one of the most promising technologies we have seen in generations.&#8221;
&#8220;This administration will continue to ensure that American AI technology continues to be the gold standard worldwide,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And we are the partner of choice for others, foreign countries, and certainly businesses, as they expand their own use of AI.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attended the conference, along with several tech executives. Vance stressed in his speech that the Trump administration is striving to make America the “gold standard” of AI, fight excessive AI regulation, prevent political bias in the field, and advocate for American workers as AI technology develops.
The vice president and his wife also met with Macron and his wife, Brigitte, at the Élysée Palace on Tuesday, where they &#8220;held a productive discussion on a range of issues, including ensuring balanced trade between the United States and France,&#8221; according to the vice president&#8217;s office. The two world leaders also discussed ending the war in Ukraine and how the United States and France can collaborate on Artificial Intelligence models.
<div id="attachment_875415" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vice-president-jd-vance-meets-with-world-leaders-in-france/emmanuel-macron-receives-american-vice-president-jd-vance" rel="attachment wp-att-875415"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-875415" class="wp-image-875415 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198909607-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198909607-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198909607-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198909607-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198909607-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198909607-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198909607-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198909607-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>(Photo by Antoine Gyori &#8211; Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)</div>
Also on Tuesday, Vance met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas at the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Paris. The three leaders discussed how to peacefully resolve global conflicts, including in Ukraine, the vice president&#8217;s office said in a release.
&#8220;The Vice President emphasized the importance of fair and reciprocal trade between the United States and the European Union,&#8221; the release said. &#8220;The Vice President also discussed the Trump Administration’s efforts to unleash American energy.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_875411" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vice-president-jd-vance-meets-with-world-leaders-in-france/france-us-india-diplomacy-technology-ai-summit" rel="attachment wp-att-875411"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-875411" class="wp-image-875411 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198340039-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198340039-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198340039-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198340039-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198340039-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198340039-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198340039-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198340039-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>(Photo by LEAH MILLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</div>
Modi wished a happy birthday to Vance&#8217;s son Vivek and gave presents to all the Vance children. Vance&#8217;s wife, Usha, joined the two leaders as they drank coffee and discussed &#8220;topics of mutual interest, including how the United States can assist India in diversifying its energy sourcing through investments in clean, reliable U.S. nuclear technology.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Had a wonderful meeting with US <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a> and his family. We had a great conversation on various subjects. Delighted to join them in celebrating the joyous birthday of their son, Vivek! <a href="https://t.co/gZpmt1jg5M">pic.twitter.com/gZpmt1jg5M</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1889373282937585875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
On Tuesday evening, the Vance family enjoyed a tour of the Louvre Museum, per the press traveling with the vice president. The Louvre is closed to the public on Tuesdays.
The Vance family also drew attention upon their arrival in France on Tuesday morning, when photographers captured pictures of the family departing Air Force 2. Commentators on social media were quick to appreciate that the sleepy Vance children were clad in pajamas and winter coats after their long flight across the Atlantic.
<div id="attachment_875407" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vice-president-jd-vance-meets-with-world-leaders-in-france/france-us-ai-summit-diplomacy" rel="attachment wp-att-875407"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-875407" class="wp-image-875407 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198092395-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198092395-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198092395-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198092395-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198092395-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198092395-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198092395-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-2198092395-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>(Photo by Ian LANGSDON / AFP) (Photo by IAN LANGSDON/AFP via Getty Images)</div>

Emmanuel Macron Receives American Vice President JD Vance

Vice President JD Vance Meets With World Leaders In France

India

JD Vance

President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> met with key leaders in Europe over the weekend as President Joe Biden stayed away because of a “scheduling conflict” with the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.
Trump traveled to Paris for Notre Dame’s official reopening ceremony after the medieval cathedral was severely damaged in a fire in 2019. The celebration marked Trump’s return to the world stage since winning his reelection.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Trump to the Élysée Palace on Saturday, where the French leader hosted a meeting between Macron, Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump addressed reporters in Paris, touting his relationship with the French president during Trump’s first term in office.
“We had a lot of really great success working together on defense and offense, too,” Trump said, according to the <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/foreign-policy/3253391/trump-overshadows-biden-final-month-with-france-trip/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington Examiner</a>. “It certainly seems like the world is going a little bit crazy right now, and we’ll be talking about that.”
Macron promoted the trilateral meeting with Trump and Zelensky on social media.
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“United States, Ukraine, and France. Together on this historic day. Gathered for Notre-Dame. Let us continue our joint efforts for peace and security,” Macron said in a post on X with a photo of the three leaders.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
United States, Ukraine, and France. Together on this historic day. Gathered for Notre-Dame. Let us continue our joint efforts for peace and security. <a href="https://t.co/hEYGEklihT">pic.twitter.com/hEYGEklihT</a>
&mdash; Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1865455792683434384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Zelensky described the meeting as “good and productive” in a post on X. Ukraine’s war against Russia was the most pressing matter of the meeting.
“We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way. We spoke about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace,” Zelensky posted. “We agreed to continue working together and keep in contact. Peace through strength is possible.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I had a good and productive trilateral meeting with President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and President <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> at the Élysée Palace.
President Trump is, as always, resolute. I thank him. I also extend my gratitude to Emmanuel for organizing this important meeting.
We all want… <a href="https://t.co/eKMtuhp2ZI">pic.twitter.com/eKMtuhp2ZI</a>
&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1865451236482310227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The reopening ceremony for the cathedral attracted dozens of world leaders, according to the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/39064f4e-35ab-4d72-8dcd-be3b4d812b09" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Financial Times</a>. Video from the event showed Trump shaking hands with a number of leaders and heads of state at the event.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
President Trump is welcomed by the world leaders and heads of state in attendance at Notre Dame Cathedral. <a href="https://t.co/2KB4u62YTY">pic.twitter.com/2KB4u62YTY</a>
&mdash; Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1865459411335987204?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Biden was invited to attend as well, but missed the trip because of a “scheduling conflict,” according to the White House. First lady Jill Biden attended the event, but did not take part in any high-level meetings between the various world leaders.

Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump

Trump Returns To World Stage In Paris Trip, Overshadows Biden’s Final Weeks In White House

Notre Dame Cathedral

Paris

The left in France surged to victory in parliamentary elections over the weekend in a shock performance after weeks of surging momentum for the country’s right wing.
The New Popular Front coalition in France is made up of communists, socialists, and greens. The alliance was propelled to victory in the election over the National Rally, France’s right-wing faction, after centrists partnered with the left to block National Rally candidates.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who leads the centrist coalition Ensemble, worked with the New Popular Front to withdraw 200 candidates from races across France, urging support to consolidate support behind the remaining centrist or left-wing candidate. National Rally leader Jordan Bardella expressed bitter disappointment in the tactic, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/07/europe/france-election-results-gamble-analysis-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a>.
The election left all three political power centers – New Popular Front, Ensemble, and National Rally – without a majority in parliament, setting up a chaotic and fractious environment where governing may be extraordinarily difficult.
“It’s not possible to govern France if you don’t have 240 to 250 lawmakers,” MP Sylvain Maillard, a member of Macron’s Renaissance party, told <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/france-election-national-assembly-voters-marine-le-pen-far-right-national-rally-jordan-bardella-emmanuel-macron-jean-luc-melenchon-french-politics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Politico Europe</a>. “I was president of the Renaissance group with a coalition of 250 members of parliament and it was already very complicated.”
The New Popular Front coalition won 182 seats, the largest share of any group. Macron’s Ensemble lost seats and ended with 163, while National Rally and its allies surged from 89 seats in 2022 to 143 seats, a sizable gain but far short of the majority that many expected National Rally to win.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, a member of Renaissance, announced he would be resigning his prime ministership on the heels of the election.
“Faithful to the Republican tradition and in accordance with my principles, tomorrow morning I will submit my resignation to the president of the Republic,” Attal said Sunday, according to a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/07/french-prime-minister-gabriel-attal-to-tender-resignation.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNBC</a> translation of his remarks. “I know that, in light of the results of this evening, many French people feel a certain uncertainty about the future, as no absolute majority has emerged [in parliament]. Our country is experiencing an unprecedented political situation.”
Riots erupted across France after the election’s outcome started to materialize in early predictions. Officials deployed roughly 30,000 riot police across the country to handle unrest as crowds of people took to the streets, according to the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13609987/Protesters-clash-riot-police-Paris-Nantes-Marine-Le-Pen.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a>.
In videos of the unrest posted to social media, some were seen celebrating the left-wing victory. In one video, a woman shouts, “We beat you!” In another, a man says, “You lost, the left is too strong. We have love, we are celebrating, and we have joy. And you, you have hatred, we are too strong,” according to <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2024/07/08/rioters-france-left-wing-snap-election/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Caller</a>.

Right-Wing Disappoints In French Elections After Collusion By Left, Center

Leftist and centrist parties in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/france" target="_blank" rel="noopener">France</a> are attempting to join forces to stop Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Rally party from taking power.
Last Sunday, National Rally won 34% of the vote; the left-wing New Popular Front won 28.12%, and President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party, the Ensemble Coalition, won 20% of the vote. A second vote will be taken on Sunday.
“The second round of a French parliamentary is generally made up largely of run-off duels between the top two candidates in a constituency, but because so many third-placed candidates qualified on Sunday, that set up more than 300 three-way run-offs,” the BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd160dywp02o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a>.  That would make it easier for a candidate from Le Pen’s party to win.
Thus, at least 200 candidates from the centrist and leftist parties — 134 from the Left and 82 from Macron’s party, according to <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2024/07/02/legislatives-2024-pour-faire-barrage-au-rn-195-candidats-et-candidates-se-sont-deja-desistes-suivez-le-decompte-en-temps-reel_6245837_4355771.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Le Monde</a> — have withdrawn from the race so that in their constituencies, Le Pen’s party will see their candidate running against only one opponent, the one thought to have the best chance of winning.
After the election last Sunday, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the head of the hard-Left party France Unbowed (which joined a coalition with the New Popular Front) and has refused to call Hamas a terrorist organization, advised any of his candidates who had finished third to withdraw, Politico <a href="//74ED9F05-1148-4281-BFFC-387F8DD1DACC/v" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, aligned with Macron, echoed the message, saying, “In such circumstances, France deserves that we not hesitate.”
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But some centrists who strongly oppose the hard-Left would not countenance supporting them in order to defeat the National Rally party because of their penchant for spending and their opposition to supporting the state of Israel in its war against Hamas. “Senior figures like Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and former prime minister Edouard Philippe – both originally from the center-right – are refusing to issue instructions to vote systematically against the RN,” the BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg3m98j3zpyo">reported</a>.
On Tuesday, Le Pen also accused Macron of a “administrative coup d’état” after being apprised that he was getting ready to make important appointments in the police and army.
“When you want to counter the results of an election by nominating your people to jobs, and when that stops [the government] from being able to carry out policies which the French people have asked for &#8230; I call that an administrative coup d’état. &#8230; I hope it is only rumor,” she said.

FRANCE-POLITICS-ELECTIONS-PARTIES-RN

France’s Left, Center Join Forces To Stop Le Pen From Taking Power In Sunday’s Election

Elections

Marine Le Pen

Protests rocked Paris and several other cities across France after French President Emmanuel Macron&#8217;s party suffered massive losses in Sunday&#8217;s first round of parliamentary elections. Marine Le Pen&#8217;s right-wing populist party, the National Rally Alliance, was the big winner.
National Rally, <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/first-round-france-legislative-elections-live-updates-emmanuel-macron-marine-le-pen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Politico</a>, came out of the first round with 34% of the vote — up from 18.7% in 2022 — which means that it is possible for them to win an outright majority next week.
Macron&#8217;s Ensemble Coalition, largely viewed as centrist, finished third in the vote count with 20% (down from 25.8% in 2022). The far left party came away with 28.1%, which Politico reported as a &#8220;strong showing&#8221; but not likely strong enough to follow it up with a majority win next week.
In the wake of the elections, left-wing protesters — reportedly an amalgam of French socialists, communists, and pro-Palestinians — descended upon Paris&#8217; Place de la République by the thousands. Other demonstrations were reported in Strasbourg, Lyon, Nantes and Lille.
&#8220;Mass Demonstrations and Riots by Far-Left Groups alongside Islamists are ongoing tonight in the French Capital of Paris as well as several other Cities around the Country, in Response to today’s Election Results which saw the Right-Wing Populist Party, National Rally led by Marine Le Pen make Major Gains in the French Parliament,&#8221; OSINTdefender posted via X, sharing several videos of the protests. &#8220;Notice how out all of the Flags being waved by these Demonstrators, none are the French Flag.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Mass Demonstrations and Riots by Far-Left Groups alongside Islamists are ongoing tonight in the French Capital of Paris as well as several other Cities around the Country, in Response to today’s Election Results which saw the Right-Wing Populist Party, National Rally led by… <a href="https://t.co/UTPvzCZi8R">pic.twitter.com/UTPvzCZi8R</a>
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) <a href="https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1807544584462864749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Des tensions éclatent à Paris.
Des manifestants tirent des feux d&#8217;artifice en direction de la police. Plusieurs départs de feu.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElectionsLegislatives2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElectionsLegislatives2024</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/legislatives2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#legislatives2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/3AwpjVxRQS">pic.twitter.com/3AwpjVxRQS</a>
— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucAuffret/status/1807543640719339821?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Les manifestants partent en manifestation spontanée dans les rues de Paris.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElectionsLegislatives2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElectionsLegislatives2024</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/legislatives2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#legislatives2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/sJ3Xr6UuKG">pic.twitter.com/sJ3Xr6UuKG</a>
— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucAuffret/status/1807540378809110933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Tonight, mass demonstrations and riots are occurring in Paris and other cities across France. Far-left groups and Islamists are protesting the recent election results, where Marine Le Pen&#8217;s right-wing populist party, National Rally, made significant gains in the French Parliament. Despite the intensity of the protests, it&#8217;s noteworthy that none of the demonstrators are seen waving the French flag,&#8221; another posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
❗️🔥🇫🇷 &#8211; Tonight, mass demonstrations and riots are occurring in Paris and other cities across France.
Far-left groups and Islamists are protesting the recent election results, where Marine Le Pen&#8217;s right-wing populist party, National Rally, made significant gains in the French… <a href="https://t.co/T8pgsYSLw3">pic.twitter.com/T8pgsYSLw3</a>
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) <a href="https://twitter.com/theinformant_x/status/1807548836711403707?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Here’s footage from Paris tonight,&#8221; Open Source Intel posted. &#8220;Thousands of left-wing activists, along with ANTIFA, communists are protesting the French election results after left-wing parties suffered crushing defeats.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Here’s footage from Paris tonight.
Thousands of left-wing activists, along with ANTIFA, communists are protesting the French election results after left-wing parties suffered crushing defeats.
Footage via <a href="https://twitter.com/LucAuffret?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LucAuffret</a> <a href="https://t.co/QSGBkXxWvO">https://t.co/QSGBkXxWvO</a> <a href="https://t.co/IZrF8gmocJ">pic.twitter.com/IZrF8gmocJ</a>
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://twitter.com/Osint613/status/1807541811742675029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Anti-far-right protests erupt in Paris following election results

Protests Erupt In Paris After Marine Le Pen’s Party Wins Big In Parliamentary Elections

Protests Erupt In Paris After Marine Le Pen's Party Wins Big In Parliamentary Elections

anti-Israel

Protests

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