French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Donald Trump's inconsistent pronouncements on the Iran war and NATO, accusing the U.S. president of undermining the alliance through remarks questioning American commitment. Macron stated that it is better not to say something different every day if you want to be serious. According to multiple reports, Trump has suggested the Iran war was as good as won and the U.S. did not need allies' support, a position that has drawn sharp rebuke from Paris.
Trump's stance on NATO has been contradictory, further straining transatlantic relations. At a private White House lunch, Trump said NATO had treated the U.S. very badly and he was considering leaving, according to The Guardian - World. However, in a separate interview with the Daily Telegraph, Trump described a U.S. exit from NATO as beyond consideration and called the alliance a paper tiger. This ambiguity has prompted reactions from U.S. politicians, with Marco Rubio suggesting the U.S. would re-examine whether NATO still serves American interests, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declining to confirm the U.S. would defend NATO allies if attacked. According to www.alternet.org, Bill Kristol speculated Trump might announce the U.S. is leaving NATO to disguise a retreat from Iran.
It's better not to say something different every day if you want to be serious.
International diplomatic efforts are underway to address the NATO tensions. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will visit Washington to try to repair relations, multiple reports indicate. In a show of bipartisan support, U.S. senators Mitch McConnell and Chris Coons said the Senate would continue to support NATO, signaling a potential congressional pushback against any withdrawal moves by the administration.
On the Iran front, Trump announced a U.S. bombing raid on Iran's Kharg Island, claiming it obliterated every military target and that Iran cannot defend against such attacks. In a social media post, Trump wrote that the U.S. is blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages. This aggressive rhetoric contrasts with other statements suggesting a quick exit, highlighting the administration's mixed messaging on war strategy.
NATO had 'treated us very badly' and he was considering leaving.
French military officials have been openly critical of the U.S. approach. According to Daily Express - World, French General Michel Yakovleff told U.S. officials to stop snorting cocaine between meetings in a rebuke of Washington's war in Iran. Yakovleff previously likened joining Trump's war in Iran to buying cheap tickets for the Titanic after it hit the iceberg, according to Daily Express - World. Macron reinforced this skepticism, stating that the U.S.-Israel operation in Iran was not France's operation and peace with Tehran requires diplomacy, not military force.
Iran has retaliated with economic warfare, targeting foreign tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused an energy crisis and soaring oil prices, according to multiple reports. The strikes have also crippled key Iranian industries, with two of the country's largest steel producers halting operations after U.S.-Israeli attacks. Mobarakeh Steel Company announced its production lines have completely shut down due to recent strikes, and Khuzestan Steel Company reported similar disruptions, with units halted for at least six months, according to Mehran Pakbin.
A U.S. exit from NATO was 'beyond consideration' and called NATO a 'paper tiger'.
The United Nations has called for an immediate end to the hostilities. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged an immediate end to the war and called on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Guterres warned the conflict is inflicting immense human suffering and severe economic fallout, underscoring the global stakes of the crisis.
Trump has also engaged in personal attacks against Macron, mocking the French president in a speech by referencing a viral video where Macron's wife appeared to push his face. Macron described Trump's comments about his wife as neither elegant nor up to standard, and French politicians criticized the remarks as absolutely unacceptable. Macron later shrugged off the 2025 incident with his wife as nonsense and a joke.
Macron, whose wife treats him extremely badly, and still recovering from the right to the jaw.
The Trump administration has escalated its criticism of American news media's coverage of the Iran war, with the president using words like criminal and unpatriotic to assail media companies. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has insulted news outlets from the Pentagon press briefing podium, according to research from four sources. Trump repeatedly dismissed difficult questions about the war by calling stories fake, and he went on a tear against corrupt media outlets in a Truth Social post, research indicates. Wartime media criticism is coming from across Trump's government, including cabinet officials and regulators, according to research.
Media outlets have responded by reinforcing their commitment to factual reporting. According to www.cnn.com, David Axelrod observed that if the war news isn't better, the administration attacks those who report it, and theorized that Trump is envious of countries without a First Amendment. Major news outlets are undeterred by the administration's criticism, research shows, with CNN chairman Mark Thompson stating that CNN's only interest is telling the truth despite political threats. Fake, AI-generated videos showing imaginary Iranian military victories have been circulating, and news outlets like CNN and The New York Times have been debunking those videos. Trump falsely claimed that Iran has been working in close coordination with the Fake News Media to show the videos, and he wrote that media outlets that generated the fake video should be charged with treason. Responsible news outlets have not distributed the fake video, contrary to Trump's charge, according to research.
Stop snorting cocaine between meetings.
Iran has engaged in propaganda efforts and internal repression amid the conflict. Iranian state television aired footage of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps writing anti-Trump messages on missiles, with one message thanking those who condemn the war waged by the criminal gang in the White House. Internally, prominent Iranian rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been detained without explanation, according to research, and her daughter said she was taken into custody and security forces seized electronic devices.
U.S.-Israel coordination on Iran strategy shows both alignment and differences. Trump described an Israeli attack as out of anger and violently lashed out, and he wrote that no more attacks will be made by Israel on the South Pars Field unless Iran attacks Qatar. Netanyahu said Israel had acted alone in striking the gas field and that Trump asked Israeli forces to hold off from further attacks, but he added that he and Trump are united on Iran, with Trump in charge. Israeli embassy spokesman Alex Gandler said the U.S. and Israel are aligned on goals regarding Iran's regime, IRGC, and programs. However, Israel has been consistent about its desire to see regime change in Iran, while the U.S. has concentrated on degrading Iran's military capabilities, and Israel has focused on assassinations and attacks on state control, according to research. According to www.bbc.com, David Satterfield said U.S. and Israeli objectives are aligned except on when to halt, with Trump not seeking regime change.
Buying cheap tickets for the Titanic after it hit the iceberg.
Trump's statements about the war timeline and ceasefire have been contradictory. Trump told Reuters the U.S. will be out of Iran pretty quickly, and he posted on Truth Social that Iran's New Regime President asked for a ceasefire, and the U.S. will consider it when the Strait of Hormuz is open. However, according to www.alternet.org, Sam Stein noted a contradiction in Trump's statements about the Strait of Hormuz, and Jon Favreau said Trump misinterpreted a quote from Pezeshkian, who is not the new president. According to www.alternet.org, Jesse Lee said Trump has lied about the war, Annmarie Hordern noted Iran does not have a new president, and Marc Polymeropoulos said there is no new president in Iran.
Amid the geopolitical turmoil, Melania Trump faced criticism for promoting her film 'MELANIA' on Amazon Prime during the Iran war, according to multiple reports. Broadcaster Nina Myskow said Trump is on the ropes, losing it, rambling, and looking dreadful. Trump accused Iran of spreading misinformation but then spread some himself, research indicates, adding to the chaotic information environment.
The U.S.-Israel operation in Iran was not France's operation and peace with Tehran requires diplomacy, not military force.
Neither elegant nor up to standard.
Nonsense and a joke.
Criminal and unpatriotic.
If the war news isn't better, the administration attacks those who report it.
Envious of countries without a First Amendment.
CNN's only interest is telling the truth despite political threats.
Media outlets that generated the fake video should be charged with treason.
Out of anger and violently lashed out.
No more attacks will be made by Israel on the South Pars Field unless Iran attacks Qatar.
U.S. and Israeli objectives are aligned except on when to halt, with Trump not seeking regime change.
Out of Iran pretty quickly.
Iran's 'New Regime President' asked for a ceasefire, and the U.S. will consider it when the Strait of Hormuz is open.
We are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!
A contradiction in Trump's statements about the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump misinterpreted a quote from Pezeshkian, who is not the new president.
Trump has lied about the war.
Iran does not have a new president.
There is no new president in Iran.
Trump might announce the U.S. is leaving NATO to disguise a retreat from Iran.