Here, here, Roger!!
4
Britain isnn't just distracted by Brexit. A crime spree that has boosted sexual assaulta by a quarter in just a year has people up in arms in Rotherham and other industrial areas.
A Pakistani group appears to have assaulted ober a thousand women, many legal minors, yet London actually punished those calling attention to this.
Then we have the National ''Health'' Service condemning sick children to starvation by edict, even going so fas as blocking access to rescue efforts to rush the sick out of the country for treatment.
I'm so old that I can emember when you could tell the difference between England and the undeveloped world.
5
Two things- first,Trumps Iranian antipathy is a reflection and natural extension of a common sentiment in the US, which the NYT does little or nothing to counter. Which is to say the US blindness to their own imperialist ways is maddening.
Second, I assume that Trump (Bolton et al) knew what was to be said and thought 'no problem, there's a work around' ....since an attack on Iran can come from Israel and the US then would naturally only be defending their closest ally when aiding Israel militarilly.
Macron of course can also be thrown under the bus later (I mean as if Trump didn't hear or is liable to have forgotten this very public slight)...when the US 'find' definitive sat' photo evidence of enriched uranium ...containers.
5
Yes the president of France showed showed Congress what a man with a spine looks like. Emmanual Macron has more class in his baby finger than our petty president with his own so fragile ego, pointing out and brushing off a small imperfection on the president shoulder. I ask you what person in their right mind says out loud in public that their brushing some dandruff off of your suit, then saying now your perfect. Trump reminds me of the male joke; when meeting a new person at a party and you shake their hand and say," gee your handshake is like that of the mechanic that works on my new Turbo Porsche''
4
Macron is NOT Trump's poodle. Trump is Putin's Puppet.
5
As always Cohen has canny analysis
2
My hat is off to President Macron that he came despite absence of military parade. (sarcasm)
4
Once again, no mention of Macron and climate change. It must not be important. Bur here is what he said to Congress:
"What is the meaning of our life, really, if we work and live destroying the planet, sacrificing the future of our children?” President of France, 2018
9
LMFTFY - "The world, teetering, but not over the cliff, owes one to Macron’s can-do France, BIGLY."
3
The countries of the European Union picked straws to see who would have to deal with trump and Macron lost!!!
4
Don't know why you, Mr.Cohen, will not say it plainly: Macron is playing Trump like a violon. And succeeding.
7
Macron's persuasion for retaining the Iran nuclear deal and call for multilateralism and globalisation are like a lone voice in the wilderness unlikely to evoke response from the world currently under the grip of xenophobic nativism and populist notion of self glory.
7
Macron gave Trump all the esoteric and obvious hugs and kisses that neither Trump's Germanic father or a stream of mannequins were able to deliver. For our leader, who appears emotionally stunted in his hunger for approval, Macron found the key to be able to put forth reasonable international political demands. Although Trump probably wasn't able to discern their worth or rationale, he does want the continued admiration, whether it might be real or not, from this Frenchman. He might even have sought advise on how to plan his parade so that it will be the best ever. What I got out of this pomp and circumstance is that I, despite whatever issues may now afflict France, would almost rather live there than here.
6
France, the can't-do country? France sure can do healthcare.
10
There is a power vacuum in Europe. The Koreans and China are building their empire, while Japan is scratching its head. The Middle East has struggled since the fall of Rome. Russia is in it for the money. What's left for America, Macron?
3
Any chance Macron was born in, say, New Orleans, and is available for duty in, say, 2020?
5
It was really frustrating, 12 months ago. Here in this same area, the “reader comments section” of The New York Times, to be saying, “Marine Le Pen cannot win”, and then see that the follow-up comment of “That’s what they said to us about Trump” had been recommended 15 or 20 times.
But I knew that she couldn’t win. It wasn’t a big surprise that she made it into the second round, but win ? Non.
3
We have seen from the first day of Trump’s administration a soot first then aim type of actions that many question if it is by design to keep people, particularly other world leaders, friend and foe alike, off balance and unable to react to Trump’s actions.
Or, is it his, Trump’s lack of diplomacy, and knowledge of world affairs that he cannot control his view of what the narrative should be.
President Macron, the president of Mexico and the Prime Minister of Canada are all much younger than our President yet exhibit more knowledge of affairs of the world and how those affairs should be address. Our grand fool calls in to his favorite comedy show on Fox News and babbles incoherently confirming to many of us we do have an imbecile as a President.
Thanks to President Macron for showing us what and how a leader of a nation should act.
7
American led-order has frayed admits Roger Cohen. That must be the understatement of the century. However whatever mistakes the US makes we know who is the biggest player on the chess-board and master of the universe. You only have to look at AMAZON or APPLE to appreciate who runs this world at war. Trump confuses everybody including himself. The US accuses Iran as a threat to Israel and Saudi Arabia; Iran treaty or no Iran treaty? So the US to enters the arena with all guns blazing again? Slap Iran and Russia in the face with more sanctions and make matters even worse? France and Germany wasting their breath with Trump who lacks any deep-thinking on how wars come out of nowhere like World War One. Trump not liked in Europe but that is not important; even Americans have doubts about his prowess and standards; but things are about to get a whole lot worse by dismissing Europe China and Russia not being American.
1
Yes, Rog. And if the six powers that first negotiated the deeply flawed Iran deal that you fell head over heels over --- the present deal which offers no restriction on Iran building a nuclear weapon in ten years, gave the mullahs $150 billion in cool cash of which an Iranian dissenter asks name one school or hospital that has been built with this cash which actually has helped the Revolutionary Guard pay for promoting the genocidal regime in Syria, and does nothing to curb Iran's ICBM development and support for terror proxies worldwide -- then the world will owe one to Trump, big time.
The same goes for a real peace and denuclearization deal on the Korean peninsula. It seems so far we've reached a very promising stage that never would have been possible if Trump hadn't gotten those very strict sanctions placed on Kim's regime, who then ended up being pressured by his only ally China spooked by the fact "unhinged" Trump's threat of the US taking the conflict to a much higher level was for real. A strategy you, the NY Times, and the other mainstream compulsive anti-Trump pundits said would only make things worse.
2
Macron's speech to Congress was a cri de coeur on behalf of democratic values and traditions in a time of expanding and threatening nationalism.
8
Macron is an allegory for and old saw that my Dad gave me: You are too young to be Conservative; you have not yet been beaten down by life and given in the the inevitable disappointments.
That is Emanuel Macron - he is young enough that all things are still possible.
The Donald and our ruling party are old and have given up on optimism and that old American idea of can-do-ism.
Vive la France!
7
Am I missing something?
what did Mr Macron achieve other than a public spectacle
of grooming, being dragged around and publicly humiliated by Mr Trump
SAD!
Yes, you missed Macron's address to Congress.
6
Has it dawned on Americans that maybe the narcissistic presidents who threaten to start WWIII (think Reagan and Trump) don't really care if war kills millions?
They know only that high stakes gambles sometimes gets them on Mount Rushmore (or its equivalent), so it is worth it to risk others' lives.
6
In the last two years, while the Americans and the Brits were voting with their "guts," the French calmly (and rationally) turned back Marine Le Pen and gave us Macron. God bless 'em! They probably saved the world.
19
While they can’t even save themselves.!
The United States and their media completely misread Macron's supposed fawning. The rest of the western world is more attuned to subtly, Macron was clearly mocking Trump with all the exaggerated hand holding . It's all in the eyes, he'd sneak a sidelong glance at the cameras to let us know he was conning the Donald. He had to lull Trump into this bromance so he could unload on him in his address to congress without fear that Trump would turn on his pal. Trump is a dupe and Macron played HIM like a fiddle.
11
Let's hope Trump doesn't read your comment. Let him be deceived, as long as we all get a respite from the battering Trump and the Congressional Republican kleptocracy are making worse each and every day.
1
All these sound diplomatic efforts to provide reason to the whitehouse seem to buy time until Trump talks to the 'next guy'. It is fatiguing to watch as Trump shreds promises and words like yesterday's wives.
Whatever comfort Macron's efforts provide will last until Trump talks to his 'base'. And then the base decision is made.
5
'Macron’s strange friendship with Trump is itself risky: the American president is unpopular in Europe, and Macron flirts with being seen as Trump’s poodle. '
Trump is unpopular in Europe (and the US) only to the globalists open borders liberal crowd, personified by the descendent Merkel. This is hardly all of Europe (or the US).
Trump is popular amongst those people (in Europe and the US) who do not see the benefits of unfettered globalism, who want a controlled border, and who want to put the interests of their citizens first. As recent elections have shown, this is a majority view in such countries as Italy, Czech Republic Poland, Hungary, Austria, and even the UK as the Brexit vote has shown.
In countries where this anti-globalist agenda is a minority view, the minorities have increased their share of the vote, such as in Germany, where Merkel is barely clinging onto power, after losing ground in the Sept 2017 election, and who took 5+ months to form a coalition government, and her chief opposition party is now the AfD, the anti-globalist party, which is ascendant.
The positions that Trump represents are actually popular to quite a few people, but just not the liberal ones, and his views are ascendant, and the views of Merkel are descendent.
2
European open borders are more like the open borders between the states in the USA than an open border between the USA and Mexico or Canada, or an open border between Europe and Russia. The UK leaving the European Union was more like Texas leaving the USA than an anti-globalist stance. It was an anti-European Union stance. And lots of pro-Brexit voters regret their votes now, with Theresa May scrambling to contain the damage to the UK economy. European controlled border proponents want to control borders against refugees and economic immigrants from Muslim countries, because many European countries experience much more serious problems integrating those huge waves of immigrants than the US ever had with Muslim and Mexican immigrants - (and no, the 9/11 perpetrators weren’t immigrants from a country on the “Muslim ban” list... ). Vive la France!
3
Missing from Cohen's analysis is a fundamental point: Macron is wildly unpopular in France itself. His reforms have been widely rejected by the French public. They don't really view this (insofar as such generalizations are possible) as France reclaiming the limelight, but rather as yet more window-dressing from a failing president. Thus Macron may be doing important work for now - but time is the enemy of leaders beloved abroad and hated at home.
2
As a leader he has to bring France to the 21st century kicking and screaming especially the trade unions
He is not unpopular, he was after all elected and won
France with labour reforms will be a strong power
6
For those who listened carefully to what President Trump said as he commented on the possible Korea decisions, one word stood out "responsibility." Mr. Trump stressed that it was his responsibility, even his "responsibility to the world" to take the right decision in these discussions. These words reminded us of Mr. Macron's speeches, as he tried to induce Mr. Trump to take the right decisions on the evolution of our climate, in view of our responsibility to future generations.
4
It's a marvel that Trump hasn't already shredded the Iran deal, expecting the Islamic Republic to come to terms like North Korea. Perhaps he can wait a few more months.
I wonder how the US military are sizing up the prospects for war with one or both of those countries. At least in Korea, the South Korean government is making it clear that it doesn't want war. In the middle east, Israel's Netanyahu still seems to be egging Trump on.
4
Unfortunately, Europe, because of all of its unique challenges, the Euro, the European Union, its eastern neighbor in Europe, Russia, its large population, and also, the fact that the middle east wars have dumped millions of people on Europe's borders with the poverty, and upheaval that comes from leaving war torn areas, makes it a place that leaders will rise or fall with how they are able to handle all of this!
1
Yes I agree Macron is very intelligent and put on a masterful performance in Washington last week that looked like sycophantic grovelling much of the time but was the best and in fact only way to reach Trump -- i.e., through abject flattery and appeal to his ego. I believe that these young leaders, like Macron and Trudeau as well, have studied Trump and carefully, accurately and insightfully assessed his character, with understanding and even a bit of humor, maybe using their perspective of observing and dealing with their own parents or elderly relatives and arrived at a modus operandi for dealing with Trump that is quite effective in the circumstances.
15
Had the progressive news channels actually carried Macron's speech, you'd have noted that after going far to recognize how America has improved over the past year, he then strongly recommended the Iran deal and other European needs in no uncertain terms.
2
Thank you, Mr. Cohen.
I agree with you. Mr. Macron's positive and presidential
behavior is much appreciated and very refreshing. I was
impressed with his ability to speak in English and convey
positive solutions. Vive la France.
8
If Trump is "transactional" about this, then he probably thinks that if he backs out of the Iran deal it will be simple - we just go back to square one, where we were before it all started, re-impose the sanctions, etc.
But there are multiple participants in the deal. If we leave we not only put our partners in a very difficult position, which they were not in before, we will finish our chances to negotiate anything with Iran on nuclear activities. That is not returning to square one.
Our partners will be cautious about working with us again, and Iran never will. The ones in Iran who made the deal go through will be finished, with a great big "We told you so" from the hard liners. It will be down to no options but force from here on. I dont like our chances with simple pure force. Do we want to invade Iran like we did Iraq, will some think [once again] that we will be welcomed as liberators?
2
Macron played Trump like a fiddle. Good for Macron. Good for us; good for the rest of the world. Invite him back here at least once a month.
He's got something that we desperately need - youth - its vitality, perspective and a view to the future beyond the next election cycle.
Most US leaders are increasingly elderly, sclerotic and out of touch.
Vive La France!
8
I watched the whole speech and was impressed. Here's someone who, even in a second language, has an extensive vocabulary, can string complete sentences together and manages to not repeat himself incessantly. He didn't scrimp on content either.
6
My history lessons have faded, replaced by reading/seeing Hamilton but don't we owe much of our very existence to France? Weren't they a baseline for our Constitution? WWII resistance? We've always been part of the whole with France. President Macron just stepped it up a bit, as someone said, he's now the leader of the free world. I hope so. He's not just smart but clever.
Viva la France.
6
Every time I hear another democratic country's leader speak, I am sad and embarrassed for my country. We have so many intelligent, highly educated, soulful and inspiring people who could represent us and we didn't get our best. Maybe next time.
10
If there is a next time.
3
Macron understands Trump. Massage the ego, be effusivevwith compliments, then make your move. The real Macron spoke to Congress. He was also speaking to Trump, whose reaction to that excellent speech remains unknown. The president is probably too consumed with Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen to worry about the trivialities of climate change, North Korean nukes, international treaties, and fake news.
I spent many wonderful times in France. One time, while my husband and I were admiring the beauty of gardens at a Loire château, à French couple approached us. Fortunately, I speak French. The couple asked us if we were American. When I replied that we were, the French couple thanked us for American help in WW2. I thanked them for LaFayette’s help in the American Revolution. I realized that in that short conversation, history became personal. I felt tied to that couple in heartwarming ways and I think they felt the same. I don’t know whether Trump is capable of such feeling but Macron has made every effort to make it happen.
4
Your tête-à-tête with the French couple has been repeated numerous times by common people of both cultures. It is when the politicians get involved that all civility and respect are lost.
1
“If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity nothing else matters”...Alan K. Simpson
10
Macron is part of the crop of newer younger enlightened leaders who are eciplscing the old boomers example Renzi of Italy. Macron is the finest of this group. Incredibly astute and clever to come over and wrestle with Trump. The old guard, Trump, is the worst of his generation. I am looking forward to voting out the old tired ethics, moronic ideas, lack of intellect, and appreciation of the new world that is here now.
11
Let’s see, Kurtz 31, Austria online with Russia. Carattoni 32, San Marino a real powerhouse. Kim Jong Un 34, North Korea everyone’s favorite dictator. Al Thani 37, Qatar whoever pays him the most. Arden 37, New Zealand with the world’s best rugby team. Wangchuck 37, Bhutan visitors pay a daily tourist fee of $250. Varadkar 38, Ireland being openly gay is always popular around the world especially when dealing with the Vatican, Russia and the Middle East. Rates 39, Estonia in Russia’s backyard. Fiorini 39, San Marino not even a country as a principality of 33,000 people. And at 39 the grand leader of Europe’s wine country, anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim and anti-anything that isn’t French, and commander in chief of the fabled French Foreign Legion who has not been heard of since Beau Geste. Don’t really see a lot of vibrant, educated, forceful young leadership in this group.
Yes, but it's a risky business. If Trump gets to feel Macron's pulling a fast one on him - gulling him? You've got to know Trump's sniffing the air after Macron's speech to Congress, smelling for the con. But you're certainly right in the main. Macron's added to our Gallic debt.
6
It really isn't difficult to shine a light on and expose the vacuous heart of American politics. The country is marinated in shallowness and hypocrisy.
Neither is it difficult to look good on the world stage today given the paucity of competitors. Macron is actually finding it easier to look good on the global stage than he does on the French stage. France is the real tough nut to crack.
4
Watching and listening to Macron addressing the U.S. Congress, I thought of some of his forebears--particularly the wiliest of them all, Talleyrand. He was accused of being Napoleon's lap dog, a traitor, you name it. Macron knew exactly what he was doing: cozy up to Trump and then tell the truth to the American people, via their representatives in Washington.
12
Or perhaps the American-led order hasn’t frayed.
You cannot be both anti-globalist and a world leader. China and the European Union are leading now. Macron looks to be Merkel's successor. America cannot even take proper care of itself right now, with its crumbling infrastructure, underfunded public schools and way too expensive health care.
1
Egoists such as Trump have no sense of irony or the absurd as President Marcon has so ably, and easily, shone.
Viva, Macron...
14
The Iran deal has worked as advertised with Iran giving up its enriched uranium to Russia and dismantling centrifuges. Only Trump and Bolton seem obliviouse to this.
Macron understands that ego-stroking is the way to get some progress with Iran and preserve the essentials of the deal, praising Trump's genius in putting forth addenda to the deal to ensure Iranian cooperation.
Macron is a regular Talleyrand in getting deals done, giving Trump full credit for these genius addenda.
8
That's new.Ususally France is demonized here for imposing French culture on Muslims in France.I can't wait for the next article criticizing France for laws on the veil,etc.
2
What a simplistic world view you have, everything is either all good or all bad. You might want to work on that.
1
What surprises me is that Trump behaves as if Macron is really into him.
Mr. Trump doesn't get that Macron is approaching him the same way that a parent approaches an out of control child. Macron is doing his best to appear agreeable to Trump while hoping to reduce the damage the kid can do.
16
Agreed with Mr. Cohen and many excellent comments. US lead post-colonial world order is now rapidly ending and Trump is a symptom of it, not the reason. The danger is that with the person as unsuitable for his role, as Trump is, this disintegration happens too fast for the world to adjust. In the Far East China firmly took leadership role, taking advantage of US retreat and incompetent leadership to promote Korean reconciliation on its own terms, legitimizing the North. I think it's a positive development, despite legitimizing a brutal dictatorship and accepting its nuclear status potentially. The only loss here is loss of US power, largely inevitable. Middle East is way more complicated with emerging dangerous alliances of Saudis with Israel, Russia with Iran etc. The consequences of US posturing and disengagement may not be so benign. France is trying to buy time until, perhaps, a more qualified person is in the White house and avert the most dangerous developments. Bravo Mr. Macron!
1
April 27, 2018
Friends are best and true when ideas are shared for mutual benefit or even at times when one is shortsighted or may need a good nudge towards alternative consideration. This is history in the making enjoyed and indeed historic with all friends that know the condition more than one or however many - with all in the best of diplomacy universal - and great to have Roger's friendship to the times we live worldly and in the heart mind soul and 'just' truths.
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
2
It is difficult not to respect Macron for even bothering to sit down with Trump. You can talk to Trump but there is no one home. Just listen to his recent garbled conversation with Fox News.
The Iran treaty may not satisfy a lot of people but it provides breathing space and an opportunity to try and negotiate. True, ultimately nothing may come of it, but it is a start. Macron is correct in supporting it and so should Trump. It might give us time to return a sane man to the presidency; someone capable of thinking.
7
Sorry, but when Macron came out of the meetings with Trump, Macron had changed his tune and forever be Trumps lap dog.
1
@Otto Bahn: That's called diplomacy. The French are masters at it. Did you miss Macron's speech to Congress?
2
your characterization of french resistance to change would mislead people who don't know france well. who was at the core of the resistance to job protections in past years? the young people, who don't want an american style economy where hiring beginning workers is on a minimum wage, and where there is no job security. you can debate this, but it is a nod to business, not to workers. perhaps the strikes are now unpopular, students are being jettisoned from protests on campuses, but it is not an old guard protecting its interests, it is young people who don't like neoliberal capitalism.
2
"People should uphold accords they sign..."
Mr. Cohen, unintentionally, put his finger on the main problem. Mr. Trump didn't sign the Iran accord. Mr. Obama doesn't have the authority to.
I don't know whether the Iran deal is good for the US on balance. I don't know if it was the best achievable deal. The failing, though, was Obama's - he made no attempt to convince Congress or voters that the policy he pursued was beneficial for the United States. He assumed that he was the Philosopher King, able to see and implement the right policy. But the American system doesn't allow kings, philosopher or not, and things that lack popular support tend to unravel.
2
Nonsense. The Iran deal was a tremendous accomplishment, and Obama was thwarted for eight long years by the Republicans, who would oppose him even if he proposed something (e.g., the ACA) that was proposed conservatives earlier on and implemented by a Republican in Massachussetts. Your last sentence applies to Trump much better than to Obama...
3
If somehow Trump's decisions are paused by his inner questioning how might they be viewed by his "friend Macron" , I am hopeful.
4
Macron's comment that Trump "is very predictable" was brilliant considering how Trump is always saying that no one knows what he is going to do. Surprise us, for once, President Trump, and don't pull the U.S. out of this agreement.
7
I think we need to get over the idea that the US will continue to lead the free world, as our leaders, especially DT, do not seem to have the moral, intellectual or spiritual authority to do so. Other countries and leaders have stepped in: China and Xinping with North Korea, Germany and Angela Merkel with Europe, Russia and climate change, Macron of France, Kovind of India. We need to get over ourselves - and let others take the reins for awhile. We'll be back.
And to citizens of France (and the world), know that most of us in the US have other things on our mind than the "fake dandruff" that our president was concerned with.
5
Merkel is a bit of an autocrat right? Bringing in millions of non-german speaking folks with limited skill sets to deal drugs and intimidate the locals. All without a vote?
The German retirees could use a tax cut and a few more police to patrol the transit hubs as well.
3
Viva la France! They saved us once during our revolutionary rising perhaps they might save us again during this moment of decline.
4
Macron is lucky that typhoid Donny hasn't infected him yet. He wii, just wait a while. It is not possible to change a mind that is basically a chameleon. The mind itself has no idea what comes next.
2
In French, "probablement" is used to indicate a stronger probability than we use "probably" in (at least American) English. So "definitely, probably" is not as much of a waffling expression as Cohen suggests.
4
Macron 2020
7
"Trump is now “much more aware than a few months ago about the facts..." Really? Not from where I am sitting. Trump is already congratulating himself because the leaders of the two Koreas shook hands; so what? Let's see what the so-called summit between Trump and Kim achieves; I am predicting that Kim Jong-un will walk away laughing, because he will play Trump for the fool that he is. Oh, wait; a dangerous and unpredictable fool.
7
If that's what it took -- getting all touchy-feely with a repulsive, stupid person (Donald Trump), to keep him from unleashing Iran's nuclear weapons, thank you President Macron .. you are a far better man than I am.
10
Macron was great but his kissing Trump, strange, his holding hands with him often was bizarre. It did not seem real . May be he was on some euphoric drug or something!
1
It was a bit of Tristan Tzara, Dada, the Absurd, all of which is French humor.
1
Macron to Trump, "Hold my beer, I'm going to go save democracy from your idiocy."
10
"Macron pushes Trump out of his comfort zone; he’s some kind of counterweight to this unidentified flying object that ended up in the Oval Office."
Trump has only one zone - "The Dead Zone"
Dead morality -Dead acuity -Dead ability -Dead normalcy
Anyone who thinks this grotesque man child is capable of anything but vain chaos should read the highlights of his interview on Fox and Friends by Chris Cizilla.
Scary ignorance beyond comprehension!
8
President Trump has been the most vociferous, outspoken and open Western, Judeo/Christian, leader in expressing his and the the West’s implacable enmity to Islam,Islamist and by extension to the Moslem World.
All other western leaders concurre in substance with some trying to sound less bellicose
France being no less hostile and bellicose but certainly far more world wise , polite and diplomatic than the rabid USA could stil lend a temporizing hand despite being at the greatest risk due to the size and pivotal role of “its “ moslems !
Re Iran , the present aflame issue, the Moslem world ,
Long at odds With FRANCE can neither forget nor forgive the French savages ordeal imposed on Algeria in savageryn and duration nor the fact that it was France that launched Israel on the nuclear military path.
Despite a long acrimonious past the Moslem world would France as go between .
However the escalating conflict can only be amicably resolved with a Progressive , ant Zionist anti Imperialist West!
1
The Tower of Katoutia Mosque at Sunset with the Atlas Mountains of Morroco in the background was painted by Churchill and given to Roosevelt during the Casablanca Conference held January 14th thru January 24th, 1943.
The latter personage was convinced by the Former Naval Person "you cannot come all this way to North Africa w/o seeing the sunset on the Atlas Mountains." They made the 150-mile journey with the road lined with astounded soldiers cheering them on. From the Berber Tower, Roosevelt lisped: "I feel like a sultan, you may kiss my hand my dear." (The painting was put on auction at New Orleans July 27 2011 from MS Rau Antiques.)
Macron has something Trump will never have; a wife who adores him, and shows it publicly. To a man like Trump, it's all about what's in the pants -- or what he perceives is in the pants. So enough with the endless intellectual analysis. We're dealing with a buffoon, as the rest of the world well knows.
6
Having lived in France for two decades, I watched Macron’s speech to Congress and mused about how one country, whose people value intellect and diplomacy, finally put aside pride and prejudice in order to avert disaster. I witnessed a changing of the guard in world leadership derived from a better set of values than ours.
9
Brilliant analysis. I have not always agreed with Roger Cohen, particularly during his wishy washiness pm the Green Revolution, but this time, he is very, very insightful. We can hate Trump and still admire Macron, who has such a wide perspective on the exigencies of our dangerous world. All the best to Roger Cohen for understanding how important it is to preserve dialogue in a time of such divisiveness and Marcon's ability to make the most of opportunities for reason, even with Trump.
5
Too much huggy huggy kissy kissy for me to stomach. What was achieved if stupid breaks up the Iran deal?
1
Macron tries to get past the grumpiness and self-absorption of Trump and draw him into statecraft. But is is like a willful child with a rag doll, he will play with it one day but fling it to the floor the next. And just as Tony Blair ended up looking more like Howdy Doody than a statesman after playing up to Dubya, Macron in turn will be made to seem clownish by Trump. The temptation to strut on the world stage under the spotlight of the American presidency leads these guys to overestimate their strength. The truth is that by themselves, they are bit players. Only the EU -- stultified by bureaucrats and convention and attacked from the right -- is potentially a player. The Russians and the Chinese are the people to negotiate with now, if the United States wants order. Macron would be wise to look to revitalizing Europe before playing on the world stage, if he wants to be real.
2
How incredibly brilliant of Macron to tolerate all Trump's repulsive demonstrations but then to stand up before Congress and the world and speak the truth.
15
I read ( I think, right in this newspaper) that Mr. Macron graduated from college at the age of 15. And the Trumpet thinks he can outsmart him? In his dreams.
8
A great welcome for French president, thanks to all americans !
6
What is this "one" to which the world owes France, big time?
Trump's America-first instincts?
Well, yeah, the "world" would like to see the US continue its America-last insanities. Take NATO, ie Europe minus Russia. The European "world" (minus Russia) would like to see the US continue to foot the bill for European defense while the Europeans refuses to uphold their treaty obligation to provide some defense on their own dime. Vive Article V!!!
Or, take the "world" of global trade. You bet the "world", and especially China, would like to see the America-last stupidity that has lead to a devastating defeat in the trade war that has been waged for decades. The "world" enjoys the $811 Billion trade surplus in Goods. Muy bueno, NAFTA!!!
Yeah, those America-first instincts are anathema to the rest of the "world".
Merci, Macron.
3
I dunno if it'll work, but yeah: appealing to Trump's fat ego about a bigger, really big, no bigger, the biggest deal with Iran is probably his best shot.
And a darn good one it was.
On the other hand, probably, what we ought to worry about is that so many world leaders good and bad have Trump's number. I am all in favor of manipulating the besnookers out of this White House, to keep the Iran deal and Paris accords.
I am also apprehensive about what happens in Korea: I hope I'm wrong, but I think we're gonna get rolled by a Stalinist.
1
My major fear is that Mr. Trump will try to use an Atomic weapon in Iran. I would hope no one would carry out such an order if it is given. U.S. policy toward Iran is wrong for the most part, we should be embraceing the moderate majority instead of pushing them away. The Iranian majority needs to get control of a religious right which has run amok.
2
Emmanuel acted and looked like a little French poodle lap dog yipping at Donald’s feet. As Canada’s PM Trudeau’s photos from his trip to India became a laughing stock so has Macron’s photos with Trump. Photos and images play a great deal in how people are perceived. And this guy has said to a French reporter that he is an equal to Putin. Powerful people do not have to tell others, they show it through their actions and personality. Emmanuel came to Washington to convince Trump not to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal but after their meetings, Trump had convinced Macron to change his tune and agree to forge a new agreement. “Can not do” France did nothing by sending Pépé Le Pew who back peddled big time.
1
Mille mercis, M. Cohen, et surtout pour la référence à l'UFO!
2
Unlike the British (with Brexit) and America (with Trump), France confronted its past by electing Macron over Marine Le Pen.
Le Pen made the error of going to Moscow just before the French presidentials to thank Putin for his infusion of money into the Front National.
In light of what can increasingly be viewed as Putin's financing and input into UKIP and Nigel Farage, who were behind Brexit, and Trump's real fealty to Putin, the French World War II experience (hostile occupation and collaboration for four years) taught them to know this sort of thing when they saw it. Marine Le Pen's "thank you" for Russian monies couldn't have been more plain had she simply gone to Moscow to "faire la pipe à Vladimir."
We Americans are not so lucky, or are more likely willfully blind. Le Pen's niece and Farage both addressed the CPAC conference this past year. American "conservatives" are plainly collaborating with a hostile power to get the only things that really matter to them: money and what they think is permanent power.
The French, through their knowledge of their own 20th-century history, appear to know better.
1
Emmanuel Macron's flexibility goal is not modernising for the sake of modernising: he does not lose sight of fraternity but works to make it still possible in a fast changing world. This president is able to to talk to unfuriated strikers in the street, able to improvise when facing them without ever ceding to demagogy.
As for foreign affairs, his vision is not different in the long run.
Basically, he deeply believes this country has still something to offer, mix of far reaching vision and efficiency. Something deeply rooted in the very ideas France and the US have of themselves.
1
Roger Cohen is exactly right. Macron is the hero here, not the lap dog. We are stuck with Trump for now and he has to be dealt with, like him or not.
The French have long tradition of higher intellectual pursuits - and Macron is the latest important manifestation of this history. Thank you President Macron!
8
Pepé Le Pew accomplished nothing but plant a tree in the front yard. He came away nothing from Trump and looked like a fool in every photo with him. Bon débarras!
1
This is a great article. For once, since November 2016, I am encouraged that the patriots for democracy can still the flag. We have at least one great ally who finds it worth their - and his - while - to try and work with Trump. Bravo! Bon courage, Macron, la France, et nous.
3
The other way around Roger, the arrogant French, who welcomed the Nazi without so much as an "arret," help round up Jews, let other nations do their fighting, i think not.
1
In those times there was no good generals for the army, a strong fascim party and communists but tied with a non aggression pact. After invasion, all men’s were send to Germany for labor meanwhile Nazis begun to seduce French people.
Who is arrogant ?
- Countries who had fight and judge others but never having the risk to have their children and wifes burn in church when they came back home after fighting ?
- or the countries who forgot the help of Russians army with their millions of death and speak like they were the only winners ?
- or those who repeated in loop the same sentence more than 50 years later and still believed they are the strongest ?
Tell me who is arrogant ? ??
6
Allow me to adapt e.e. cummings for the occasion.
Macron told him
He wouldn’t listen
Al Gore told him
He didn’t listen
Pope (yes sir) Francis told him
You told him
I told him
We all told him!
It took impeachment
A sunken Mar a Lago
And oblivion
To tell him.
3
Good for Roger. An unreservedly positive piece about France in the New York Times. That makes my day.
I love the place. Order a baguette properly in French and they reward you. Bungle it and they'll punish you in a gentle way that encourages you to do better the next day.
"Hey buddy" doesn't work. "Bonjour Monsieur" gets you off to a good start.
Just like everywhere else, give them respect and respect will flow back to you. I can't wait to get back there.
1
President Macron said [Trump] “will get rid of this (Iran nuclear agreement) for his own domestic reasons.” In diplomatic-speak, the translation is “he hates President Obama because he’s a black man.”
7
Ridiculous charade, it was, of two pampered prima donnas doing their self-serving bests to appear spontaneous and humble; with that said, Macron — elegant “sec et bien dans la tete” is clearly the front runner to rational, literate people. Trump has Fox News and his staff of cadavers. spontaneous and humble. With that Ridiculous charade, it was, of two pampered prom queens doing their self-serving bests to appear spontaneous and humble; with that said, Macron — elegant “sec et bien dans la tete” is clearly the clear front runner to rational, literate people.said, Macron — elegant “sec et bien dans la tete” is clearly the clear front runner to rational, literate people.
1
A slender reed to lean on roger
2
It's simple: Macron showed the world how to deal with a buffoon.
5
The difference is, Macron represents France and in this case, Europe and beyond. Trump confuses self and country, hardly conscious of the existence of the world beyond tits and cash, the contrast is unbearable to watch, SAD!
7
The US under our dear leader has become a place of do as I say, not as I do. As a example he talks big about NK not doing what it promised while he backs out of the Iran deal, the Paris climate accord, the TPPS, NAFT.
3
Macron has been very friendly to Trump and how does Trump repay? He may throw a fancy dinner but also put him down by announcing in front of the press he is brushing a bit of dandruff off of his shoulder. With friends like that, Macron needs to watch his back! Trump didn't stoop to calling him a name, but he obviously was making a move to at least slightly humiliate Macron. Disgusting!
8
I laughed when Trump mentioned the Iran meddling in the region. Who invaded Iraq twice? Who disbanded the baathist party creating ISIS ? Who has supported Israel incursions into Lebanon? Or the assassinations performed by the mossad ? Who supports authoritarian regimes a la Saudi Arabia? Who has invaded afganistan in order to surround Iran? Wouldn't you feel threatened and react if a country that is not even on your continent meddled so close to you? We are lucky that Iran even considered such a deal. Wether we like or dislike the religious authority that rules Iran is irrelevant. This deal at least stops Iran from producing nukes for the foreseeable future and they have complied with the terms of the agreement. This president is willing to set the world on fire in order to satisfy domestic politics and a so called ally that has been and is the cause of instability in the region. This just another shortsighted gamble that will literally blow up in our face.
3
Macron is a collaborator.
1
Vive la France!!!
3
Macron displayed the spine that none of the repulsives have. And he did it in English. His second or third language.
6
'In other words he’s trying to make the deal what it was not...' Non, Monsieur Cohen, the Iran nuclear deal was a first example of a diplomatic accord between previously non-communicating sides. It was possible non despite but because it was separate from other considerations, (e.g., meddling in Syria, Lebanon, etc.) And the stakes were huge. Unlike Iraq, Iran was very close to nuclear bomb capability, and this accord retarded that danger. However, Macron's concept of striking similar accords in other areas is a logical extension of this success, not an attempt to make the accord itself something it can never be. What is Trump's vision, aside from war ?
2
Yes, Roger Cohen, well said!
Usually your columns are perfect, and this one is excellent, but need to point out one error:
"...to this unidentified flying object that ended up in the Oval Office."
Should be:
"...to this unhinged flying object that ended up in the Oval Office."
As always, thank you.
You speak of Macron's 'frankness.' Since you very much know what you are doing, I suspect you meant for us to associate that with 'Frenchness.' In fact, a quick internet search shows the word 'frank' to be associated with the tribal designations 'Frank' and 'French.' Hurray for France!
Who would have thougnt ....form the land of Lafayette, Victor Hugo and Charles de Gaulle, we now get .... Mssr. Macron. Huh?
Despite his plutocrat predilictions, I am cautiously optimistic.
He looks brave, diplomatic, classy, and impossibly competent next to the American Swamp Monster.
Viva La France!
5
Concerning the main point: it is much too early to declare that Macron has changed anything in the run for the cliffs lead by Trump.
As to Macron being Mr. Flexibility: of course, as an American, Mr. Cohen approves when a foreign leader tries to promote US mores at home. However, the vast majority of American social and economic ideas and policies that have been adopted in Europe have been catastrophic from any point of view you care to consider. Workplace flexibility? Work policies in Switzerland used to be much closer to the French ones until the appearance of that other plague, Reagan. Since the mid-eighties, employers here have jumped on the flexibility bandwagon because it means more profits and less cares. For the workforce, it has meant the disappearance of loyalty as a value, the promotion of ruthlessness, deviousness, and treachery instead, as well as the development of ageism, precarity, injustice, senselessness, crazy hours, unpaid overtime, stress, depression, mental illness, burnout, and the resulting increases in divorce, loneliness, and despair. The Anglo-Saxon model.
Don't get me started on privatization of government services.
3
With Israel claiming that the Iranians in Syria as a causus beli between the countries and bumbler and chief Trump being led around by the nose by Israel it seems that war is never going to end in Syria. Macron leaps in claiming the false flag chemical attack claim by al Qaeda affiliated jihadists in Syria needs a response against the hapless Assad regime doesn't encourage one on Macron's behalf. He claims the Russians launched a cyber attack against him before his election which proved false. Macron wants to copy free market practices in France. The supposed flexibility that Cohen mentions is a screen to launch a dizzying wealth concentration at the highest income levels. Hopefully Macron will not make the same mistake by trying to parlay political amity that Tony Blair with the US in the hope of supposedly increasing France's political influence in the world.
1
Love this editor Roger - unfortunately Macron is more loved by the international community than by his own country. I'm a Belgian raised in the US (30 yrs), now living in France (6 yrs). I find Macron thrilling, energizing and visionary. He clearly understands what is at stake globally (climate in particular). His biggest challenge will be to bring a broader coalition on board with his agenda. I hope that he will be able to combine speed, vision, with collaboration, and collectivity.
Lets hope so, no just for France, but for the West.
2
Macron has more than flirted with the perception that he’s Angela Merkel’s poodle, as well. However, given her current weakness, that seems to be a bet he won. As regards Trump, Macron obviously is an intelligent guy and a canny politician, and clearly figures that some influence is better than no influence at all. But it’s really all in-process, isn’t it? Apart from being the lynchpin in affording us victory in our revolution against Great Britain, and for the Statue of Liberty, croissants and frogs legs, for those who support the Paris Climate Accords and the Iran deal we have yet to see if “the world owes one to France, big time” or not. We shall see.
Roger believes that Macron’s “main goal” in Washington “was to stop Trump tearing up the Iran nuclear deal”. I’m not so sure. I suggest that Macron believes (as he has stated) that Trump will tear up that deal, figuring, like North Korea, that it’s about time we stopped eternally kicking cans down blind roads – it won’t be long before the “deal” expires anyway, and Iran will be free to do whatever it wishes with nuclear arms, having enjoyed years free from the bulk of what once were crippling sanctions. And I believe that he knows that Trump is serious about the Paris Accords – that he’s willing, as with better balanced bilateral trade relationships, to adjust those Accords to better balance shared costs. Macron may be after something more central to France’s, and Europe’s, vital interests.
2
Consider that Trump has forced the prospect on Europe of the most painful choices they’ve needed to face in many decades between funding guns or butter to better defend THEMSELVES. That is a choice, if Trump is serious, that calls into sharp question the very sustainability of Europe’s social welfare model, under which much of the continent is fiscally creaking already. This is decidedly non-trivial: to better balance such investments risks actual social destabilization.
So … what is Macron’s REAL motivation in maintaining a relationship of influence with Trump? Merkel is next up at bat, and if we see similar nice-nice, I’d suggest that both these leaders (Macron and Merkel) have cahooted in seeking to influence Trump on a matter FAR more central to their near-term shared interests than atmospheric carbon or the dangers attendant to Persian nuclear popguns. Britain seems to be settling on the date of the much-delayed Trump visit. Will we see Mrs. May join the cabal? Surely, she and Britain have at least as much skin in the game in this tussle as France and Germany.
When I saw all that hugging, kissing, dandruff etc. I cringed. Here was the man who had our President's hand in a vice grip, letting go only when he decided. But when he landed to address in Congress, Mr. flexibility became Mr. Rigid. He was severe in his criticism about the US under Trump. Yes, France is a bit player of what is defined as West. But that bit can become powerful when the US is totally isolated, nationalistic. We still think we are omnipresent based on past laurels. But the past was based on principles, morals and predictable trust. That is no more. We have reneged on almost all the deals and pacts. Trump thinks we are invisible and can set the rules for the world. Bottom line we cannot. The Iran Deal was hammered out after great deliberation for years by five nations. It is the best deal for now. But if we renege and try to alter the negotiated conditions, Iran will abruptly withdraw and restart their nuclear program towards a bomb. Why should Iran renegotiate when they are holding up to their end of the bargain? Macron has turned out to be an astute politician trying to get France into a leadership position. As usual our delusional President cannot understand the drift of the world order.
2
If the US or Israel wants a country to denuclearize, yet the US insists on keeping its own arsenal as a deterrent, why would any country agree to denuclearize its own arsenal?
2
If the US is maintaining thousands of nuclear weapons with multiple forms of deliverance as a deterrent, why would any country develop a few nukes to defend itself from a US deterrent?
1
Another in a long line of Roger Cohen paeans to neo-liberalism, even as (in alternate columns) he bemoans its results.
Here we have a man who earns a living by expressing opinions telling actual working people in a country where he's a tourist that their expectations are immodest, that their social supports are over-generous and what they need is a good dose of Anglo-Saxon market discipline, where the employer is king, and when he asks "Which of you shall we say doth love us most"?, you'd better say "me"!
What could possibly go wrong this model of social organization? Trump, for one?
3
Let me ask the unthinkable question: What would happen if the US pulled out of the Middle East? If we took our people, our war machines, and our money, and came home? If we cut off funding to all parties, including Israel, and came home?
Several things come to mind: Russia would move in big time. So what, they are there now. There would be a big war, possibly nuclear, in which one or more countries cease to exist. Horrible, agreed, but what happens after that?
It took the horrors of WWI and WWII to break Europe of their endless feuding. The Middle East has been at war with itself for almost 1,000 yrs. Is it possible that a drastic solution would work when all efforts at a smart, humane solution have failed? Is it our responsibility to pay the price for others stupidity, especially when we are being hurt in the process?
1
Don't be so quick to put USA above other regions/countries with regard to war. We had our own civil war, one of the deadliest (and stupidest) wars in history. We may yet devolve into another split of magnitude.
1
Why does the NYT insist on idolizing neoliberal politicians like Macron? Macron has proven to be not only fairly racist, but as a former investment banker who is supported by wealthy entrepreneurs he's failed to connect with the working and middle classes in France.
Sure, he's not Le Pen, but he's still an oligarch. So it's hard to really argue that Macron pushes Trump out of his comfort zone, when the two have so much in common. Particularly when we see that Macron promised new economic prescriptions but is increasingly relying on the old Thatcherite, and to some extent Obama, Clinton and Bush, narrative of “there is no alternative."
So spare us your adoration of your Gallic savior - he's more of the same and he's a dangerous machiavellian who needs to be watched very closely.
3
I disrespect Cohen's portrait of an intransigent France. The French we'll practicing their ideals all along, while Americans forget about ideals. In America it's just grubby greed that is the ideal. We've had this shoved down our throats for decades as Republicanism became the American way. Cohen only reflects the mind-set of shunning ideals in favor of perceived practicalities.
2
I give President Macron an A+ for effort, but alas I suspect he is on a fool's errand.
Ten minutes after he left, I have no doubt that Bibi was on his direct line to dt, hissing "Ignore that little man, of course we still have to get rid of the Iran deal. It's bad for you and bad for us".
And by now we all know that the Orange One always parrots the last person he talks to.
4
Macron spoke directly standing beside Putin in public at Versailles that France would not tolerate influencing French elections and that the invasion of Crimea was wrong. He tells congress directly that U.S. will return to Paris Accord because there is no Planet B. He says France keeps Iran agreement because it signed it.
Our biggest complaint against the French is that they wouldn't invade Iraq with us the second time.
There are two chapters of the DAR in Paris because 2500 Frenchmen died for us in the Revolutionary War and their descendants live there.
If Macron could save us from Trump it would rank with our last-minute rescue of France in WWI.
5
As America stews in its own special sauce of racism, tribalism, fear and isolationism, Macron's France is becoming the leader of the free world. He is an intelligent young man with energy and ideals, the only dynamic leader in the west right now. Vive la France.
6
You are not kidding. Macron is the adult in the room; what a difference with childish and impulsive, brutish and nonsensical, behavior of the ugly American in-chief. People's skills are a tribute to Macron's smooth dealings in protecting world peace. Hats off to France's standing, a contributor seeking ways to unite us, instead of sowing fear, hate and division 'a la Trump'.
5
Macron spoke in English; will Trump speak in French if he speaks to the deputes? Macron listens, Trump does not.
1
Thank you for pointing out Macron's purposes and, hopefully,accplishments. I keep thinking about the enormous efforts that Dominique le Villepin made in 2003 to keep US from attacking Iraq. Was so intense that American's stopped eating French Fries because of it. and, Villepin lost position in France. As a bleak history has shown, it was a visionary effort. In the strange, irrational way Trump thinks, Netanyahu pulls the strings on the Iran deal. The only deal Netanyahu wants is that the US attacks Iran and destroy its nucleur capability forever. Netanyhu's second choice is that the US joins Isreal in attacking Iran.Nothing else matters. The dreadful Republicans in the house also blindly support Netanyahu's initiative. Of course. half of the House Republicans cannot point to Iran on a map, and half of those again cannot point to the Middle East on a map.
1
Not a word in this piece, in most comments, mentioning Saudi Arabia. And what is the price of gas now? I guess that doesn’t factor into any discussion of the Iran agreement.
'Trump is now “much more aware than a few months ago about the facts, that we have a common responsibility in order to preserve stability.”'
It's terrifying and embarrassing that it takes Macron flying over for dinner to learn Mr. Trump something that was most certainly outlined in his daily briefings over a year ago.
Perhaps Mr. Macron has been watching le Dîner de Cons, and determined the best strategy for dealing with Mr. Trump is to befriend him, and let the world laugh at the chef de cons.
4
This is how a real leader does his job, Mr. Trump. You, on the other hand, are a failure and a joke. Sad.
2
"a breath of fresh air" is what the French said about Dr. Guillotine's new invention when the head rolled.
Let's not lose our heads over Macron. He is a novice--a darn good one but still...
2
What is one to think when some American politicians laud our special relationship with France, while not that long ago there were only Freedom Fries in Congress's cafeterias and the same pols wanted nothing less than to "fry" anything Francais.I hope Macron's reverse psychology (Trump will do this, and this, and...) works.
And saying this 'American president is unpopular in Europe' is like saying the bubonic plague was unpopular in Europe.
2
Mentioning Macron's risk in "Snuggling up to Donald," is a just a hint of the dangers of any association with this man. Just ask Tillerson, McMaster, Ryan, Dr. Jackson... the list gets longer every day. Is Haley next?
1
Simply put, Macron has a sense of history and our president, for all his bluster and con doesn't have a clue. Decades from now historians will write that on this visit Macron took the measure of
Donald Trump and brilliantly eclipsed the "most powerful man on the planet."
1
It is hilarious to see the US, France & the UK criticizing Iran for its assertiveness regionally, in it's own (Iran's) backyard considering what these three countries have done, from afar, to the Middle East for the last century. Sublime hypocrisy.
4
Macron sounds optimistic: "Trump is now “much more aware than a few months ago about the facts, that we have a common responsibility in order to preserve stability.”
But for us, reality has already set-in, past, and disappeared: the only responsibility trump embraces is the one to himself.
Macron sees his own responsibility as forever tied-to and entwined in the life of his constituents-his countrymen.
2
So far it would appear that the people of what you have called a "can't do nation" chose much more wisely than the people of the "can do" nation. There is a lesson in that somewhere.
1
If approval ratings rate are to be considered, it seems that 60% of a disgruntled French electorate don't agree with Mr. Cohen.
Macron doesn't think that France's blue collar workforce needs a fair wage or benefits...but, the wealthy, well, they of course need to be catered to.
5
Agree with Cohen about Macron's sincere, risky effort. In the short term, this is about a war between Israel and Iran which neither win and in which both suffer greatly. In the longer run, this is about nuclear war. Nukes are not plastic pawns on a game board. They are the true weapons of mass death. Let's keep the Iran agreement and negotiate a stronger deal.
6
Trump has the power to shake up the world in unwelcome ways. What has stopped him so far is his incompetence and unfocused thought processes. Macron's approach, appealing to his ego, while pushing for policies that run against Trump's worst instincts is probably the only one that may nudge Trump away from taking disastrous decisions. It is certainly worth a try. Poking the beast rarely has a good outcome.
4
Merci Macron! Few politicians are willing to risk their voters approval for the greater good.
Deft and courageous!
13
Macron was... the Voice of America! A voice that has been muted and corrupted by the last freak election. Even Republican representatives couldn't help being moved by his appeal to the most defining aspirations of the American people. The ones who didn't demonstrated once again how far they have strayed from the national dream in their pursuit of their short-term crass political advantages - short-term, that is until the coming mid-term elections.
12
At a minimum, we should be grateful and admiring of President Macron's valiant efforts, in clear, compelling, and flawless English, to directly challenge Trump's confrontational foreign policy, in the seat of our federal legislative power, before many of his diehard adherents. Talk about speaking "truth to power". Vive la France!
14
Not so fast. Granted, Emmanuel Macron managed to stand his ground and even got in a few well-deserved swipes before Congress, but that doesn't mean that either he, or we, are out of the woods just yet.
And there might not have been the Trump tweet- storm launched in his wake, as was the case with visitng Chancellor Angela Merkel -- but as we all know by now, it doesn't take much to turn Donald Trump on his heels.
Besides, Mr. Macron isn't seen as nearly the saint back home, as those who tend to view him here.
So it must have been a welcome break for him to leave behind those pesky union strikes and disgruntled French who see him as a tool of the rich, and enemy of the poor.
Since the start of his time in office, his poll numbers among the working and middle -class have taken a hit, and folks are out in the streets demonstrating against his policies.
So, in a way that sounds a bit like what's happening here under this president as well.
But as long as the Iran deal is still up in the air and the U.S. doesn't find its way back into the environmentally conscientious fold by re-joining the Paris Climate Accord, Mr. Macron's visit can't be touted as a total success.
But at least it was a nice photo-op.
4
Macron has shown himself to be a talented leader, and I am grateful that he stepped up to the "plate." He played this one perfectly. Bravo!
10
Israel has nukes and has not signed the non-proliferation treaty. Iran will eventually be nuclear. The in-between time will be fraught with bellicose statements. Keep calm and move on.
50
Keep calm how? And move on to where?
3
However, Israel has not called for the destruction of another country the way Iran has.
5
One big difference is that Israel is not run by a pack of old, dated, blood thirsty, grudge holding war mongers who will .... oh. Yeah. Never mind.
15
Unfortunately our fraud in chief would never learn any valuable lessons from the leader of France. Macron schooled trump while trump enjoyed all the preening and fawning. Bob Barker the game show host would have made a better president.
11
It seems very possible that "Trump's North Korean experience" is more the work of Kim than of Our Leader's saber rattling.
4
More the work of the new South Korean leader.
8
I’m not seeing much of trumps involvement in this Korea thing. Looks mostly like Moon is the real diplomat here.
3
Wow Roger, you covered a lot of territory, sorry I can’t agree with all of it as much as I enjoy your columns. In the first place Macron did not “ sweep” the French elections, he squeaked by with lies, just as he has done since entering politics, pretending he is a man of the people when he is actually a functionairy of his E’Cole pedigree, more Reagan and Sarkozy than Obama. His first steps have been to attempt to crush Unions and begin the Americanization of France. It should be the opposite, we should be emulating France, they have by far the better health care and safety nets and a conscience with respect to labor. I understand your unhappiness with France and the rise of anti semitisism, but that had nothing to do with the enviable quality of life once on offer in La Republique and everything to do with the Iraq War and globalization that threatens the French Middle Class just as it has aided in the evisceration of America’s Middle Class. Additionally, There was a passing nod to Koreas problems in your article, that would appear to be being turned on its head if one reads today’s Times. Sorry Roger, Macron does have the appearance of America’s Poodle and after his, hopefully only four years are up, I suspect he will rejoin his brethren at Bank Rothschild or perhaps hop the pond as his predecessor Sarkozy did, seeking greater riches and more like minds on Wall Street.
10
Macron " did not squeaked by with lies during election"; he's doing what he had said.
"He begins "Americanization of France"... I would say he begins to give to France a world trade conscience and therefore the need to tighten elbows with all democratic countries to fight unfair commercials practices and obscurantism.
He suggests we can't keep our social welfare without being really competitive abroad.
I have a poodle, he follows me by the leash... Time when France will follows USA by the leash is not for tomorrow and Macron doesn't want it either (he 'll meet putin pretty soon).
2
Marc: You in France as we in America could keep our social safety nets in place in one of two fashions, by allowing only those who paid into them to benefit or raising the taxes for those on the global stage who benefit from this “growth”. BTW, the election was very close and if you read his bio you will discover he stabbed everyone in the back as he changed party affiliations and jumped from one mentor to the next:additionally there seems to be a few hundred thousand protesters on the streets in France recently who would refute your position of his delivering on his promises. His base is and always has been the neo liberal elite, from his early childhood to E’Cole to his position at Rothschilds to Elyssee, he has been groomed for precisely what he is doing, destroying the “ old France” and ushering in a new globalized version benefiting the one percent, everything about him reeks of falsehoods.
Seeing Macron and Trump together reminds me of Mark Twain's description of Napoleon III riding alongside Abdul Aziz of Turkey. Napoleon, he says,
"is representative of the highest modern civilization, progress, and refinement; Abdul-Aziz, the representative of a people by nature and training filthy, brutish, ignorant, unprogressive, superstitious–and a government whose Three Graces are Tyranny, Rapacity, Blood."
Is it really so different today?
10
I can't claim to be a student of history, but that quote seems steeped in racism. Let's be more thoughtful than that.
1
I think you are a little severe on Abdul-Aziz comparing him to Trump.
1
So we're "filthy, brutish, ignorant, unprogressive, superstitious"? Remember 75% of voting age Americans did NOT vote for Trump, who fawns over autocrats jealous of their unchallenged power. Thankfully our Founders were enlightened enough to design our government to prevent such a scenario from happening here. We can continue this by supporting a free press, judicial independence and by all means VOTE!
1
The contrast between the sensible, adept Macron and Trump's incompetence is breathtaking. Macron is indeed a much needed counterbalance the bumbling dullard ruining America.
18
As a citizen of the “can’t do nation” I can’t find printable words describing what I think of your condescendence. Your claim that you “lived there for a long time” tantamounts to the three weeks Bernard Henri Levy spent in the United States to write “American Vertigo : Traveling America in the Footsteps of Tocqueville” - a writing with about the same value as yours.
5
Trump, he said, “is very predictable.”
This is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone say that of Trump. If it’s true, then there is a way to deal intelligently and effectively with him—a way to manage him. This would be a great advance over the current hysteria of those opposing him.
3
What's so unpredictable? He's a racist.
2
“...he’s some kind of counterweight to this unidentified flying object that ended up in the Oval Office.” I suggest “ground dwelling manure spreader” is a better analogy for the current occupant of the White House.
5
It is a sad state of affairs when President Macron's speech to Congress was more eloquent, factual and meaningful than anything that has spewed from the mouth of the person who is called President in this country. Republican members of Congress, you were on the world stage, how does it feel to protect, defend and support the buffoon Macron had to endure for two days?
20
It is good the Donald Trump has at least one friend, although I am not sure just how lasting will be the Bon Ami .
It was such a breath of fresh air to hear President Macron's speech to Congress.
Perhaps, once again, it will be France who saves our own republic.
369
The main hope that I see here is that Trump's vain susceptibility to flattery is a strong enough counterweight to his dyspeptic obtuseness. This would be "dandruff diplomacy" at its very best.
4
No, Mr. Cohen, Macron is not the guy you should be praising. He is just a reluctant follower. For the changes he wants to make, are the same as Trump promotes--changes he has extolled for over 2 years--about unleashing the human spirit to create a better world.
"Moroseness" is not a symptom of any one nation...think 8 years of Obama. Think "Malaise" under Carter.
Trump is a capitalist--and capitalism is the hope of the world. Find me places where it does not exist--or where it has been shackled and dampened by socialism--and I'll show you the most depressed places on earth. France is just one mild example.
--North Korea
--Iran
--Syria
--Venezuela
--Cuba
--Russia
--China 30 years ago
--America's inner cities
The common denominator for these places is lack of freedom. The cure is less government, more capitalism.
Trumpism, despite its creator's flaws, is a beacon for the world. It is bold. It encourages freedom--that old, destructive ways of thinking be challenged and rightly blown to smithereens. It encourages less government regulation, lower taxes, the rule of law, entrepremeirship, It breaks the bonds that enslave citizens to government--like the ones Macron wants to vanquish--restrictive labor laws, high taxes--and the public unions--with their stultifying work rules.
Trumpism encourages free (but fair) markets, supported Brexit, and smashes trade agreements which are one-sided and destructive. Macron is not your hero, Mr. Cohen. It's Trump.
1
"Capitalism is the hope of the world?" Certainly not in its present unfettered, deregulated, upside-down pyramid state to which the oligarchs have moved the USA. Our only hope is the expansion of our few "socialist" programs: Public Education, Social Security, Medicare. All under siege by the oligarchs who want us each to go it alone, if in poverty among out-sized wealth-- so be it. If you mean capitalism as it briefly was in the USA-- from the FDR era until the assent of Reagan style free market worship, then I will agree to agree with you. If you mean what we have experienced since the Reagan era-- with a brief time of general well-being during the Clinton years--well, I do not think you will find many thinking Americans who would describe capitalism and its rapacious leaders, as "saving" anything.
1
@Karen...you got in the "O-word", oligarchs...but what is missing is the "P-word",--plutocrats. Is that an oversight?
Oligarchs and Plutocrats...two of the favorite scary words thrown about by progressives, in an attempt to frighten everyday citizens. It's like some scary movie...where the oligarchs and plutocrats attack in the night--eating the brains of our children.
But if you just substitute the phrase "successful people", or even throw out a few real names--like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffet, Jeff Bezos or Michael Bloomberg--somehow they don't sound quite so scary.
In any event, show me a country with no millionaires or billionaires, and I'll show you some of the most despotic places on earth. Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, and Iran come to mind--in any event, places you wouldn't care to live.
I'll just leave you with one quote, by Winston Churchill. (I'm not quite sure if he was an Oligarch or a Plutocrat--or both).
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.
Jesse,
You would have to define Socialism first. No one wants Venezuela, I never heard anyone saying that except conservatives. Does Germany has Socialism? Well they have well regulated Capitalism that doesn’t leave anyone behind. It is called Social Democracy and they have surpluses with everyone, included China and US. They have bilionaires all right but also free education for everyone and universal health care.
During all the kissy-kissy love fest between Trump and Macron, Macron most certainly didn't make much changes in his speech to the Joint Session of Congress, one that Trump advertised by tweet as being a great and rare honor, and one that everyone should listen too.
Macron not only spoke English fluently, contrary to Trump, but openly assaulted Trumpism in all of its form.
He stuck a knife into Trump's back, albeit too subtle for the latter to even understand it at first.
After someone in the WH obviously explained to Trump how devastating Macron took him apart, be it about trade wars, there being no Planet B to leave to the next generation, etc., etc., he must have thrown a fit, one that he didn't recover from - thus explaining his crazy tirade and self-incrimination on Fox and Friends that very next morning.
16
I swear I read "this undignified flying object that ended up in the Oval Office" and I thought, "How apt!"
Macron is for the long game; Trump is for the long con.
6
I think I see many sides to this, but I was frankly more impressed by Macron's performance and handling of our ignorant dim-wit President than I have been from any other leader, including the mega-svengali, Putin. Macron played Trump like a cheap violin, and much more subtly than Putin, or even Xi of China.
After all, Macron has something Trump never will have: An adviser totally loyal to him who is shrewd, observant, never misses anything, and whom he can rely on totally. That would be his wife, Mme. Macron. While never betraying it for a second, it was blatantly obvious she totally saw through Trump, his ego, his brainlessness, his misogyny, and how to play off it, and have her husband play off it.
It's clear to anyone who looks (and here I must disagree with Mr. Cohen) that the reason May and Merkel fail with Trump where Macron succeeds is blindingly obvious: He's male, they are female and, no matter WHAT he says, Donald Trump is totally incapable of seeing ANY woman as his equal. Brigitte made sure Emmanuel knew that and used that. Since THEIR relationship is in a different universe than Trump's and Melania's, Trump would never realize that.
Finally, to reassure Europe and France that Macron is not Trump's poodle, there was his brilliant speech to Congress, which got both Dems and the GOP standing up at times, followed by his brilliant pre-departure press comments.
Macron is not perfect, but France definitely got the better, smarter "brother" in this "bromance"
17
The French Poodle vs. the snarling Junkyard Dog.
Hilarious, and sad.
4
Emmanuel Macron is a breath of fresh air: the English-speaking anti-de Gaulle with the promise of making France great again—and bringing the West with it. What a contrast to Angela Merkel, wanting only to magnify Germany’s blooming trade balance, and the Donald’s dual wish of gaining stature among Manhattan’s rich and in eliminating the poor from his sight lines.
The Donald and Angela hem and haw while China and Russia eat the West’s lunch and dinner.
3
Just for fun ...
See the new Andy Borowitz parody, from the New Yorker: “Americans Startled by Spectacle of President Who Can Speak English”
And who is this competent, articulate “president”? Macron, direct from France.
Quote: “All of the major cable news networks interrupted their regularly scheduled programs to cover the phenomenon, as a man who was identified as “President” spoke in complete, grammatically correct English sentences with no visible sign of strain or discomfort.
Just minutes into the telecast, thousands of viewers called the networks to inquire if they were witnessing a hoax.“
9
None of us can have any idea whether Macron's approach will have the result we all want, not least because that other President, Trump by name, has no idea what he said yesterday or what he will say today.
So all I can say is that I admire Macron for his willingness to think differently and especially for his words "Every personal relationship is unique" but we have to think what if anything we have in common and - then unsaid - make the most of it.
I cannot resist adding this about 1) Macron speaking well in English, and 2) Macron, a "Frenchman", and his relationship with a woman, his wife, compared with a now infamous Frenchman in Sweden.
1) Remember the former President of Harvard who said there is no point in learning a language other than English. Hard to believe? No,he is an American.
2) The infamous Frenchman in Sweden, Jean-Claude Arnault, harassed young women at his Culture Club, at least as far back as 1994. Yet the ever so aristocratic Swedish Academy let this happen and one of its members, Horace Engdahl, wanted Arnault to run a school to teach Swedish men how to be gentleman, perhaps following some French customs that Engdahl sees as best. (Not off topic since Macron seems to have done much better with his woman, than Horace with his - see the book written by his wife, Ebba-Witt!)
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
4
Of course Macron wouldn't consider siding up to China or Russia. You don't see streets in Paris named after Mao or Stalin, but they're are plenty named after Kennedy and Eisenhower.
3
Should have been there are rather than they're are.
The French people are looking at him differently.
Rail strikes. Farm labor unrest. Other general resistance to his leadership - this after he was swept into office with a large mandate.
Having lived in France off an on over the years, I hope this analysis will find an audience there. Macron sees certain aspects of French life need some adjustment to allow for French citizens to have incentive to try new things without a crushing government stopping them in their tracks with regulations and unbearable taxes.
Change comes very slowly over there. In many ways, that's a good thing. In others, failing to see the threats all around you is very dumb and dangerous. Good luck to Macron. He needs it.
I'm just not sure his dance with Trump is a good idea.
1
"Flexibility" isn't suspect? "Disruption?"
Mindless change is as idiotic as mindless conservativism. The "Anglo-Saxon model," which I guess should not be called "globalization," seems to mean that everything about life--job, family, community, public services--must be perpetually disrupted so that we call all better serve the profitability of the corporations who have taken the place of government. I lived in France for a while too, many years ago. I'm sure it was a drag if you were a foreign CEO seeking to take over a market. If you were interested in life--in family, food, the arts--it was great. And it still managed to be cutting edge in ways that mattered--a high-speed rail system back in the 70's (that's still the best), a nationwide (& non-commercial) early internet system in the 80's, great health care (& a heck of a lot less bureaucratic than America's) etc. I think there are still some people in France who realize that the purpose of the economy should be a good life, rather than the purpose of life being to serve the economy. Not Mr. Macron.
5
Well said. I lived there for four years, in the 70s and 90s. A quality of life that touches a far greater segment of the population in FRance than the US. Amazing health care but they won't even consider the argument for it here.
4
'' Macron is playing the long game with an irascible U.S. President , whose views are not his ...'' > the ''end game'' being for Macron to be on the international stage, while his domestic aspirations have become stalled.
He knows ( along with the entire world ) that it is a waiting game for the American President to be replaced ( in short order, or by 2020 ) and that ''relations'' ( not letting the U,S, President take aim at you or your country ) is worth the risk of cajoling him and assuaging his enormous ego,
Macron plays the game well.
10
Whatever Cohen wants to praise Macron for, just remember the the level of sanctions the USA is likely to revert to would prevent European banks from working in Iran.
Macron was here protecting his pocketbook.
2
I couldn’t believe that Macron would lower himself to hug and kiss Donald Trump without a master plan. Even when Trump tried to embarrass him by picking off the faux dandruff, Macron laughed because he knew that he would have a chance the next day to address our Congress. How impressive that he not only spoke in a English but that he was clear and direct in his arguments to counter Trump’s stances.
I hope that Congress had their eyes open to what leadership is by the charismatic and clever leader of France. Vive la France, Viva la liberta.
4
It is not really that Macron is that good, it is that anyone looks like Churchill or George Washington when compared to the current occupant of the white house. I don't think appeasing our tweeterer in chief will change anything, he is surrounded by so many bad influence that a one off meeting will not have any lasting effect. All it take is one session with Bolton and Pompeo and a call from Hannity to nullify all the good will created by Macron's visit. I think Macron should save his energy to dealing with French, European and world politics and ignore the US until such time when (or if) the US public elect a sane leader.
1
"At the very least, Macron pushes Trump out of his comfort zone; he’s some kind of counterweight to this unidentified flying object that ended up in the Oval Office."
isn't it pretty to think so.
Mention is not made of Macron’s clear speech to the GOP bluntly informing them that Trump is “very insane”, as is their short-sighted support for him.
3
Emmanuel Macron is obviously much smarter than Donald Trump, who is a man with average intelligence and far-below-average emotional stability.
Macron is trying to maintain a dialogue with Trump, while still openly disagreeing with him.
Whether or not Macron succeeds, let us all remember a Tony Blair who found that agreeing mindlessly with George W. Bush accomplished nothing and cost Blair everything.
3
'' Macron is playing the long game with an irascible U.S. President , whose views are not his ...'' > the ''end game'' being for Macron to be on the international stage, while his domestic aspirations have become stalled. He knows ( along with the entire world ) that it is a waiting game for the American President to be replaced ( in short order, or by 2020 ) and that ''relations'' ( not letting the U,S, President take aim at you or your country ) is worth the risk of cajoling him and assuaging his enormous ego, Macron plays the game well.
1
The world has always owed one to France - "Big Time" - since 1789, Roger! All of us who watched President de la Republique Francaise, Emmanuel Macron, speaking brilliantly and from his heart to our Congress on Wednesday morning, wished that we could have a leader to be proud of. Instead, so many Americans find Trump execrable and loathesome. Today's great news is the announcement that was made after the Panmunjom meeting of South and North Korea last night. Mirabile dictu, the unification of the Korean peninsula is in sight. Chancellor Angela Merkl arrives at the White House today. What a fascinating hinge of history we are all living through these years!
I'd bet that Trump is repeating that old NYC saw: "If you're so smart, how come you're not rich?"
Kudos for Macron, and Kudos to Roger Cohen for this insightful comment.
1
No one owes Macron anything. His visit with all its pomp and fawning and kiss-up “personal relationship” is only enabling Trump, when what’s needed is to stop him.
Trump’s decision to unilaterally rescind the nuclear deal and reinstate sanctions against Iran will hasten another disastrous Middle Eastern war. For no reason other than, as Macron correctly observes, “domestic reasons”.
Having spent some quality time with the leader of France, Trump can now pretend to everyone he actually listened to the other side and gave it some thought. He didn’t.
Says Macron: “We have something in common, which is that we are definitely, probably, mavericks of our own systems.” Uh huh.
Macron would have done much better to rally the Europeans in a united front against Trump. Remember in 2003 when Donald Rumsfeld dismissed the French leader Jacques Chirac as part of "old Europe" for his opposition to the US war on Iraq? How about a little less “maverick” and more “old Europe”.
3
Beware of the Emperors new clothes, the one with lint attached. Many opinions are similar to the Republican views that are held under the new cape of Democracy.
Mainly privatization and taxation.
"Vive la liberté" in the United States!
2
You're one step behind, Roger. Macron has stopped with the "on the one hand ... on the other." Now he does jujitsu: he took Trump's oafish advances and back-flipped them into a critique/reversal of every policy, with all 535 members of Congress as witnesses. Awesome.
3
Roger, I agree. Even if Macron's accent is a bit strong for some Americans, his vocabulary, syntax, and compound sentences in a second language are amazing...all without reading a prepared script. Did you hear that Donald? And I don't mean just his delivery. It's the message of a liberal western worldview which comes across loud and clear. His message in France is also loud and clear. He ran on an agenda of labor reforms and no spring/summer of rolling strikes will push Macron off this agenda. Did you hear that Donald?
The rolling strikes are annoying to travellers but people in general are not taking to the streets in a 50 year redux of '68. For one thing the cobblestone pavers they hurled at the police from behind their barricades in '68 have all but been paved over. Today they strike for a while and break for "un cafe" or later an "apéritif". The travelers jammed on the train platforms who are trying to get to work shout at them to do the same. At the same time Macron is proposing increases to unemployment protection. No one, even the right, talks about undoing the social contract...just making it sustainable. Did you hear that Donald?
4
Thanks for this valuable perspective. Many wars, 'probably, maybe' most wars, start when men (usually) are worried about their supposed honor, what others think of them, because they are worried about being embarrassed. We must thank President Macron for risking embarrassment -- not simply lamenting Trump's ignorance -- in the pursuit of peace. President Macron has proven himself an important leader and truly honorable man.
222
My wife and I were talking about Macron this morning. We owe him big time for walking into Congress and daring to utter progressive ideas. We owe him for what appeared to be an awakening among Congresspeople that one can have hope when thinking about the future. There are things we can do rather than sit back and wait to see what horror our president cooks up in today's news cycle.
2
I don't agree with Mr Cohen. By fawning over Trump, President Macron gives Trump more credibility despite his anti-democratic, anti-diplomacy, anti-environment, anti-treaty, anti-civil discourse views. Macron has actually lowered his own credibility just as we need a world leadership alternative to Trump, Islamism, Russia, China. With weakened political leadership in Germany and the UK there was an opportunity for Macron, especially as much of the world admires French culture and its historical role as a birthplace of enlightenment, revolution, liberte etc. But the opportunity was flubbed by Macron's deference to our wretched President, that will only encourage his worse instincts while making Macron seem weak.
47
Barry, did you actually watch Macron's speech? I'm generally pretty jaded about these things, but Macron hit all the right notes, in my opinion. There were plenty of statements that challenged Trump's positions, indicating that he is not, in fact, anyone's lapdog. I thought he was pretty brave to make that presentation. Actually, I was a bit amazed.
63
Macron's deference to your President is not a deference to Trump's ideas but a deference to his host, and especially a deference to a leader of a friendly country to whom France owe so much.
Macron would have been weak if he did not speak about climate, steel and all kind of subjects we don't share the same point of view...
Don't forget that Trump is not popular at all in France, Macron took a risk at being too close with him. I guess most French will see Macron like a fox rather a poodle.
46
I don't think it's possible for anyone to materially change Trump's credibility.
15
Lauding Macron's effort at educating Trump and civilizing his role as President is fine, but it is not a policy. The Iran Agreement is not between the United States and France, obviously. There are six governments involved and only one wants to destroy it. France and Macron and international peace would be better served for him to convene a meeting of the other signatories to design a path for continuation of the Agreement without the United States.
Should the USA withdraw and resume sanctions on Iran, the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia plus the EU and the UN might very well decline and prevent the dike holding back nuclear proliferation from collapsing. The USA would continue on its current path of isolation, called America First.
Two plutocratic tools, one a parvenu, the other the spawn thereof, doing their respective best to obliterate the best of what each country represents to the world.
Macron will attempt to overturn an egalitarian social structure that has served as a template to the world as an example of life affirming service of the state to an entire people.
Trump is attempting to turn back a progression toward what the nation of France presently embodies, toward a feudal, militant oligarchy more in tune with aristocracy within these United States.
Certainly France is right about the Iran nuclear agreement. Trump is succeeding with the North Korea situation, Too bad they both don't reside on an island somewhere & leave internal governance of their respective nations to the enlightened.
1
Cohen misstates the past, and this leads him to misunderstanding.
The world was held back from WW3 by far more than "the American-led multilateral order." That order was held in check by a major rival. With the check gone, the American order went off the rails in an orgy of "creative destruction." America was already bogged down in half a dozen wars when Trump arrived.
While Trump's attitudes don't help, we got into this because of the Washington Consensus, The Blob as Obama called it, which he recognized and named but was unable to stop. We have a big problem, and it is not merely the person of Trump. If Macron is to save the international system from American destabilization, he'll also have to deal with what got us to this before Trump.
France was not paralyzed after WW2. Today it is vastly different from 1946, in ways great for the French people, in medical care, in education, in economic security, and France has stayed out of wars since the 1950's.
With Sarko the American and now Macron, Americans crow that France is finally admitting that American ways are better. No. The French don't think that. They want further reforms to tweek the system, not to overturn it to become America.
Macron himself was elected as "not Le Pen," and he shares that with Trump. It is an incomplete vision, a negative.
From those shared negatives, Macron would need to induce Trump into major reforms of what America has been for two decades and more, not merely keep him from being Trump.
6
Actually, you're wrong about Macron sharing with Trump a common reason for being elected. Yes, you are correct that M. Macron is NOT Le Pen. Where you are wrong is Trump IS Le Pen from the tip of awful haircut all the way down to tips of yellow toenails.
3
If Trump truly is "more aware of the facts", it is a step in the right direction. If only the president cared.
1
Mr. Cohen, I agree with the general sentiment of your column, but I have a somewhat different take on Mr. Macron's approach to the Iranian deal.
Whereas President Macron set out clearly the sharp contrasts in his approach as compared to President Trump, and his perception that the end results of Trump's policies will derogate from all that is great and good about Western civilization, summed up with "there is no Planet B," I thought his view of the Iranian situation is closer to Trump's than you see.
What is critical is how we get there.
You write that Macron is pushing the idea that the (existing) nuclear accord can be integrated into a broader agreement covering Iran's ballistic missiles, its regional expansionism (not to mention warmongering and support of hostilities), and nuclear ambitions.
Notwithstanding that people are unwilling to give Trump any credit for having a worthwhile idea, isn't this exactly what Trump says is wrong with the Iran deal?
In the final analysis, Macron may have just shown Trump a better path, through negotiations, to get the desired result. But as you recognize, getting the Ayatollahs there may be difficult. What incentive do they have to give up what was a pretty good deal from their perspective?
Trump's bluster, at least from his vantage point has worked with North Korea and even Xi Jinping who has talked about concessions on trade.
Maybe Trump's bluster has worked to convince Macron that it's time to intervene. The Ayatollahs get it
1
South Korea did its own job, not drumbos ‘bluster’.
And concessions from China? What a pipe dream.
We need a really intelligent and moral person leading our country.
Not a 4th grade moron.
Macron is a contrast in leadership to Trump and is better at the art of than our own President.
Trump's art of the deal is all about first taking off the table the present day regardless of possible risks and impacts. In his mind, it gets the other side to think that they are starting at zero and will get them to give Trump exactly what he wants. But that won't always work and Macron knows it. Trump on the other hand keeps using this same old tactic regardless of how played the move gets.
Did it work with respect to North Korea, maybe. Might it work in Syria, maybe. Will it work with Iran, maybe. But the downside risks are great and again Macron knows this too.
Macron's art of the deal involves first measuring up those across the table from him and then doing what is called for. In Trump's case that involves flattery and the sharing of the world's stage even if that move feels uncomfortable. But Macron pulls this move off with incredible comfort and finesse.
And to Marcon's credit, his ability to rebalance our president who has so much to get unhinged about that one does worry about state-of-mind, he comes across as the antidote to what ails us. This is good for us and good for Marcon.
There are few that have been able to temper Trump. I give Macron huge credit for having found a way.
12
RichardS
That's fair. But it may well be that in international negotiations where logic alone doesn't work, a combination of both styles may be necessary and may work.
Macron is attempting to fill the vacuum left by Obama's departure. He's certainly the most well suited personality. I wouldn't get over excited about a French reemergence though. We're only hoping France can keep the wheels on the track for Trump's duration. As noted, Trump is only domestically concerned. If we have anyone to thank for current negotiations with North Korea, we should thank Moon Jae-in. His legitimate fear of getting blown up is what brought Kim Jong-un to the table. We have a right to be concerned about Iran.
One other thing: When solving 21st century problems, it helps to have a leader who was born closer to the 21st century than the 19th century. Just a thought.
17
A cautionary note is required in the face of all this enthusiasm about Emmanuel Macron. "Mr Flexibility" is doing a lot to destroy the bargaining power of French labour unions, threatening wages and pension benefits. The last thing that France needs is an American style attack on organized labour.
18
Disagree, inflexible unions are contributing to antiquated ways of thinking. Retirees at age 60 running around in France, draining the social welfare system and outliving their years of employment.
1
I certainly hope Mr Cohen is right about Macron’s effect on Trump. Macron seems to have sized up Trump’s penchant for fantasy, and is trying to use it for a good end.
But I would quibble with the characterization of France AM and PM (Ante- and Post-Macron). Day by day we see the wisdom of France’s opposition to the Iraq war 15 years ago. France’s social supports, especially medical and retirement, are light years from the cutthroat American model of every person for themselves. And from long experience, I can say that some of the warmest friendships I have made have French roots.
21
Macron reminds me of President Obama, men of vision, character, and intelligence. With eloquence and truth, their words are powerful. Will we ever learn to listen and heed such global leaders as this present one of France and our former one of the United States?
87
Macron doesn't hold a candle to Obama. Macron is a slick anti-popular politician who cannot deliver what he promises, that is, breaking the big labor unions and getting rid of hard-won labor benefits. He has not won the consent of the French people in this and ultimately will be sent home. Don't be fooled by the high-fashion exterior of the Macrons--it's a class war which they cannot win. However France goes in the future, the short work week, extensive social benefits and widespread job security will never go away.
1
And what a pair that would make.
1
This is a great analysis and very drole to boot. France is still a country that Trump respects and admires so there is optimism that French seduction as deployed by Macron will work its charm in promoting world peace, and get Trump to expand his view of the deal rather than reject it. However, as it is written, Trump is 'unpredictable' and it could all go up in vapors, but there is a view of this Franco-American relationship that seems like an ideal worth upholding within the Republican party, but it might not be valued as much by Trump's immediate advisers.
15
The title of this piece; The World Owes One to France, Big Time is because France's president is using whatever influence on Trump to not rip up the Iran nuclear agreement, but instead to add to it those vital and crucial issues that the agreement failed to address.
For example the agreement currently in place did not at all prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon by using all the nuclear development infrastructure it built, its many reactors that it insisted on merely disconnecting, instead of disabling, along with its thousands of centrifuges that are ready to be up and running on short notice. The only thing the agreement ensured was that Iran would wait 10 years before it does so. And while 10 years seems to be a long time in the eyes of children, in regard to states it is almost no time at all.
In fact by the manner in which Iran carried on during the negotiations of the agreement about how every element of their nuclear development program must be left completely intact, with any demand that something be permanently disabled being a dealbreaker, the only logical conclusion is that they only signed the agreement because it allows them to develop their weapons after 10 years.
So it is the rest of the world that owes Trump for his calling out the agreement as worthless and thus forcing them to negotiate a permanent end of Iran's nuclear program. Because the fact is that a future nuclear Iran in was accepted as a foregone conclusion by the whole world.
3
You forget the idea that the geezers in the Iranian government who hate America because of the abuse they suffered at the hands of the Shah who they see as an American puppet will be passing away in the next ten years. I think the hope was that a more enlightened leadership would be running the country and better deals could be arranged at that time. To tear up the deal would illustrate to all that you cannot trust the Americans and may very well create diplomatic challenges for decades to come.
Cohen is doubling down on his bromance with Macron, first demonstrated with his over-the-top euphoric reaction to Macron's election last year, even though he has been a profound disappointment thus far.
There's a whiff of desperation about it all.
This is part of a recent trend among the European Op-Ed contributors to this newspaper, whose tone has turned rather ominous since the German election, as the magnitude of the multitude of destabilizing problems Europe faces becomes clear. From the schism with Eastern and Central Europe to the lost generation of Millennials to the continent-wide war on pensioners that is just beginning, in the form of income and wealth transfer to those Millennials in order to prevent violent social unrest, their growing anxiety is entirely justified.
And Macron's future, and that of Europe, is even more bleak as Merkel withers and Germany turns inward to try to avoid social unrest, which will doom Macron's dream of reforming the EU. And without that reform it will not be able to withstand the powerful centrifugal forces of the 21st century.
It would be great if Macron succeeded, but Happy Talk is not productive. Pundits are supposed to offer insights, not wishful thinking.
After the financial crisis in 2008, Queen Elizabeth is said to have asked a room full of economists at the prestigious London School of Economics "How did nobody see it coming?"
I suspect the same question will soon be asked about the coming turmoil in Europe.
8
Beautifully nuanced column, Roger Cohen.
Too bad Donald Trump probably couldn't understand Macron's "long game" if he tried.
No matter, the world saw. And heard.
First of all Emmanuel is no "toady" with Trump. if anything he set the tone and the look of their meetings. even their non-meetings of the mind, with forthright optimism.
The address to Congress was terrific--I kept wondering how the president and the GOP members of Congress were taking Macron's careful yet at times playful (Planet B, indeed!) spelling out his values and beliefs.
in a funny way, repurposed for the world to hear, the address sounded like a campaign manifesto--for Democrats!!!
I don't think he showed weakness trying to move Trump off the dime of irrationality and lack of strategic vision for America's place in the world.
Because he set up the chouces for our troubled world. Macron trying to build up, Trump doing an excellent job of tearing down
Will these two "pals" meet in the middle with both moving upward?
As the Donald likes to say, "time will tell."
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An incisive article, Mr. Cohen, and a well expressed comment here.
What I particularly appreciated during President Macron’s
visit were the typically French subtleties . He knew exactly what he was to do and say and while playing footsie with
Trump he ended his visit with a drop of the blade on Trumpism.
36
I found watching Macron with Trump to be riveting, an astonishing diplomatic effort one rarely gets to witness. While I'm able to subsume ego to larger goals (at times, for a while ;) Macron was a master class, appearing lapdog to Trump, on the world stage, but for the greater good. Observant thinking people, which does not include Trump, knew exactly what he was doing. Nevertheless I was reassured by Macron's substantive and unapologetic address to congress, lest anyone doubt what he was really up to. Let's hope for Emmanuel's success.
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What I also found fascinating is that no matter how much it is obvious Macron and Trump not only get along with each other, but actually like and respect each other -- and that Macron as did Angela Merkel today concede Obama's "legacy" Iran deal is deeply flawed and needs to be improved, the Roger Cohen's of the world in some mysterious way use that to justify their permanent Trump Derangement Syndrome in which nothing the man does can ever amount to anything, and will only lead to whatever doomsday scenario is the plat du jour for the moment..
OK, one down, but there's still one miracle that needs doing -- getting Turkey into the EC.
That's a lot harder now that a.) Turkey has swerved into the, uh, Eastern European lane, and b.) become the most populace candidate around. It would have been a lot easier a generation -- or two -- ago, when it was already obviously overdue.
Macron has a bit of an out. The major miscreant of the period past is Germany. On the other hand, the excellent Chancellor Merkel has taken her lumps for acting with bravery and principle.
Can Macron live up to Merkel's standard? It ain't easy being a leader.
9
Turkey is not, has never been, a European country.
Yet, 3% of its territory is in Europe.
So? England, Scotland, Wales, and Irealand are not European, and Germany is barely and only recently a country.
The EU is a political machine capable of deciding its own membership, and using any name it chooses to cobble up.
One way of looking at it would be that Turkey is a European country imposed upon Anatolia by Ataturk.
Macron recognizes that he must somehow deal with and try to influence an impetuous child, and I think he also accurately calculates that the best hope is to buy time until Trump is gone, one way or another, while keeping him from shooting the world in the face. Trump has proven that he will consistently and predictably flaunt his defiance of tradition, reason, and consensus. Better to cajole him, help him find a way to do the right thing while thinking it his own original idea. Because if he thinks for a second that he's doing what makes sense, and what the sane world wants, he'll do precisely the opposite. Well done, Mr. Macron. Let's all hope it was enough. Unfortunately, I have grave doubts about that.
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For all France's can't-do-it-ness, they seem to run circles around the U.S. in terms of quality of life and services for the people. What does that say about us?
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We hear a lot about the great social benefits in France but the reality is not so great. Such as the one year maternity leave. Yes, mothers get one year off work at 2/3 pay. But after that year, there is no affordable childcare for all but the wealthiest women, so they can't return to work anyway...so the mothers got a year of public assistance and then?????? In every country the wealthiest of the citizenry has great "quality of life"...
1
My dentist here told me yesterday that there is a group of dentists without borders. They've go to the USA and to Texas (because he knows I'm from Texas).
Think about that for a minute. Doctors and dentist without borders go to poor countries where a significant percentage of the population cannot get health care either because it is non-existent or because the population they serve cannot afford simple medical care.
30
NYCSandi: where did you get this information? Please read (in reputable sources, not Fox News) about école maternelle. Three-year-olds are guaranteed a place, and 95% of children that age attend. State maternelles are free except for the cost of lunch. Does any American have a comparable program?
I wish Macron well as the new leader of the EU! He's a very smart man that came out of nowhere. He outclassed trump by miles. However, I do hope he looks out for the low paid workers in France while leading Europe's hopes for the future of democracy. There is much at stake. Excellent article!
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Well, Macron did everything possible to really make Trump mad: he spoke in complete sentences in a foreign language; he argued for the Iran treaty and against leaving the Paris climate accord; Macron remembers what he said before and pushes those ideas as a road map for the future; he rallied the US Congress to live up to its responsibility as a world leader. And yet, the Donald still seems to love Macron. Could be that Macron puts on a good parade and is willing to suffer the dandruff brush off among other indignities. I celebrate Macron as the adult in the room and a reminder that the US has a moral imperative to act like the country that begat Jefferson and Lincoln. We clearly won't get there with Trump but at least Macron can be that persistent voice of conscience that this administration utterly lacks.
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President Macron's whole visit to the United States came down to this: France will honor its commitment to the Iran deal regardless of what the U.S. does. Macron was speaking for all of the EU players, which means that effectively from Iran's standpoint the deal is solid they will still be able to trade freely with Europe and the rest of the World even if the U.S. pulls out. So, if the U.S. wants to pull out, go ahead, but this will not have that great of an effect on the Iran deal.
Macron to Trump (and Israel): Europe and the rest of the World is going to honor the Iran deal no matter what the U.S. decides.
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How on earth in the cacophony of our current legislative branch does a president or any guest speaker before Congress bring a bipartisan response like we saw this week with President Macron?
Macron carefully laid out the important details of history binding France and the United States together as he makes a serious bid to be the future of French and European leadership.
Macron’s curious relationship with Trump is the stuff that a friend of mine who taught psychology at a university in Normandy said would be a year-long study for his students to explore.
While Macron will have his own problems at home as Trump is not exactly popular in France and images of Tony Blair’s politically unhealthy relationship with Bush 43 provides a noteworthy comparison, Macron is masterfully threading the needle in the U.S. and the world will take notice.
Standing up for the Iran and climate change agreements and being a proponent for free and fair trade along with human rights is a direct challenge Macron is bidding for leader of the free world. This rigorous defense of liberal democracy from a 40-year old political leader was a stunning political moment.
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If only the French were as enamored of Macron as Mr. Cohen is! He is doing exactly the same thing as Trump, namely trying to make France great (and relevant) again. The French elected this elite globalist due to his youth and charisma, and now find themselves stuck with someone who wants to revolutionize, privatize and overturn everything they hold dear.
11
This article seems to be based on some idea that Macron has somehow managed to influence Trump's so-called thought process. I sincerely doubt that. Maybe for an hour or so.
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The age difference between Macron and Trump says it all: 31 years is a chasm in Today's world. Macron looks to the future while Trump works to return to the past.
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Trumpworld has forced me to become more open-minded and sincere about understanding opposite viewpoints. Otherwise, I would have passed this up. As I type my reply, 75 readers have recommended this post, reproduced below. I'm curious at what feeble age the originator of the post believes people "work to return to the past?" Will Macron do so at age 70, or 60, or 10 years hence? Although in his dotage, I think the governor of my state, just for example, has been guided by looking "to the future." It has been well over 31 years since he was a future thinking Moonbeam.
Original Post:
"The age difference between Macron and Trump says it all: 31 years is a chasm in Today's world. Macron looks to the future while Trump works to return to the past."
1
Between Trudeau and Macron, Trump may be kept down a logical path. In its way is Bolton. The neocons believe that our military power can be used as a threat to accomplish anything we want, despite the fact that this philosophy has resulted in our longest war in our history.
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The question that has me scratching my head is this: How does Trump's base, the folks who applauded loudly every time Trump declared the Iraq war "a disaster" & who vehemently supported Trump's desire for the US to rid itself of foreign entanglements, reconcile itself with having John Bolton as Trump's new National Security Advisor? This guy is a Hawk's Hawk - a man who not only supported the Iraq war, but who today wants us to pursue military options everywhere!
4
I believe we've just witnessed why, for hundreds of years, French was the language of diplomacy (including in Great Britain's diplomatic dealings): French was renowned - not cynically, but consciously - for its suitability in saying as much, or as little, as a diplomatic situation required, but with an elegance alongside which many other languages (including English, when coming from the lips of most speakers these days) cannot compete.
During his speech, listening to the cadences of Macron's own language (which he uses with far greater skill and style than either of his 2 immediate predecessors), and comparing them with the relatively-stilted interpreter's translations of the same sentiments in English - especially when his words went briefly off-script - well-illustrated this point.
During his State visit Macron somehow seemed able to make his points, while still maintaining a reasonably genuine-looking smile, even when being embraced by his host in the latter's attempt to appear gallic - maybe even a little sophisticated. It is truly a tribute to the French President that he apparently managed to penetrate Trump's stilted and evident awkwardness in such circumstances.
Then, to have a similar effect on a wider audience while speaking English...
Je tire mon chapeau!
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An American-French Translation:
English: It is impossible to 'support' this Trump Presidency;
French: It is impossible to 'support' this Trump
Presidency = This Trump Presidency is intolerable (and downright loathsome; devoid of valor or honor)
2
English: Unless you're a racist
French: American isolationism contributed to the rise of Hitler.
That's a 'British-English' translation as well as an American one...although the French verb "supporter" (as in "je ne supporte pas cette présidence") isn't as strong as you indicate in your translation: it might go as far as meaning "I really can't stand this presidency". But I wouldn't have thought "intolerable" or "downright loathsome" quite came into it. The challenges of translation amply illustrated, though!
The Speech and the visit to the MLK memorial with Mr Lewis were actually inspiring. Maybe Macron can assume the leadership of the west since Trump has abdicated.
The Iran deal and the Paris Climate Accord need to survive in order for reason to prevail. So far, in the US, reason has lost its place. If Trump can't lead, maybe he can follow.
Another point made that seems especially critical: If Trump voids the Iran agreement what faith can the Korea's have in anything Pompus and Trump can agree to? Zero. Trump changes his mind and his story daily.
50
Another way of viewing Macron's visit, especially his speech to Congress was that he was trying to do an 'intervention' with Trump and the Republicans in control of Congress. It seems that many of our strongest allies historically and even our non-allies are worried about how far America has moved away from its important role in the world, and the damage that has been done so far due to Congress's and the President's ill though out policies and rhetoric. I am humbled by Macron's and Europe's intervention efforts and sad that Congress and the President have no ability to hear it and reflect on the damage they have done and are doing not only to the world but to our great country.
44
Macon was masterful in his treatment of Trump. Even more masterful was the speech he gave to the Joint Session of Congress, Not that he will be taken seriously by most of the Republicans.
However, Trump does not listen. So whatever Macron's messages to him, Trump will not even give them a second thought. He is a reactionary, not a thoughtful man.
But Kudos to Macron. Too bad he is not our President.
Maybe between Macron and Trudeau in Canada they can save Western Civilization. We need all the help we can get.
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Thomas Piketty, author of Capital in the 20th Century on the common bond between Macron and Trump
Trump, Macron: same fight
It is customary to contrast Trump and Macron: on one hand the vulgar American businessman with his xenophobic tweets and global warming scepticism; and on the other, the well-educated, enlightened European with his concern for dialogue between different cultures and sustainable development. All this is not entirely false and rather pleasing to French ears. But if we take a closer look at the policies being implemented, one is struck by the similarities.
In particular, Trump, like Macron, has just had very similar tax reforms adopted. In both cases, these constitute an incredible flight in the direction of fiscal dumping in favour of the richest and most mobile.
Now, here is what Macron has proposed in France. The rate of corporation tax will gradually be reduced from 33% to 25%; a lower rate of 30% will be introduced for dividends and interest (as an alternative to the 55% income tax rate applicable to the highest salaries); the wealth tax will be abolished for the largest financial and business wealth holders holders (while the real estate tax has never been as high for the less wealthy).
For the first time since the Ancien Régime it has thus been decided in both countries to set up an explicitly derogatory system of taxation for the benefit the categories of income and wealth held by the most affluent social groups
23
A welcome antidote to Cohen's dewy-eyed hero worship. Yes, the US led post-war international order has forestalled world war, but at an enormous and growing cost, or imperial blowback seem across much of the globe. China and Russia may not appeal to financiers like Macron, but they are not the greatest threat to "the international order." Rather, it is tax havens like Luxembourg, and the anti-democratic, neoliberal kings in Brussels, who are hollowing out what remains of western "civilization."
1
Woof
Thank you for this information. If correct, it does appear to be directed at increasing the wealth of those who need the increase least. Unless accompanying legislation requires investment of the increased wealth resulting from the tax reductions, the tax plan is just another trickle-down scheme. And we all know how wonderfully well those work.
Media in the USA do such a dreadful job of covering foreign news, I don't recall seeing these tax plan details before. Only if proposed legislation abroad causes major strikes or uprisings do we see any mention in our MSM.
2
You can read more details on the French tax plan, in the French original
http://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2017/12/09/thomas-piketty-trump-macr...
In the English version , provided by Thomas Piketty
http://piketty.blog.lemonde.fr/2017/12/12/trump-macron-same-fight/
I would have liked to hear Macron tell Congress that the Iran deal remains a danger to Israel that needs to be repaired. He didn't.
5
Macron barely acknowledges rampant antisemitism at home, so it's no surprise he's unwilling to comment on threats to Israel.
4
And it’s a good thing he didn’t. Israel needs to work with Palestine.
2
Wikileaks emails show that Macron's advisers realize that France will need American military support going forward. Like all French presidents he wants to make France great again and that means military adventurism. In private, the French don't have much faith in an EU army and view the Germans as pacifists who don't want to militarize. Financially, France can’t afford to go it alone militarily and it needs access to American intelligence, equipment, and technology. In Mali in 2013, it put boots on the ground, but the U.S. provided backup and cash. Macron is an ambitious man with an agenda. The Times has a habit of hero worshipping photogenic foreign leaders.
7
"In private, the French don't have much faith in an EU army and view the Germans as pacifists who don't want to militarize".
Karl,
!.) An EU army doesn't exist.
2.) After WWII, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was only allowed to rearm again after having enshrined in its new constitution that German troops could only fight in wars when Germany and other European NATO countries were attacked.
6
If IQ45 decides to stay in the Iran Agreement (although he will probably brag about "reopening terms"), it will be due to Pres. Macron's cajoling and knowing how to play IQ45 like a fine-tuned violin. If IQ45 pulls out, he will only continue to diminish our standing in the world, and even the Koreans will freeze him out of any peace deal as they know his word cannot be trusted. The world will continue to go forward without the US (at least until 2020).
27
Yes, people should uphold the accords they sign, but the United States did not commit to the Iran accords. President Obama did, but he did not follow our constitutional processes for ratifying a treaty. Thus the accord can, and maybe should, be abrogated in good conscience by a subsequent administration.
5
The Iran agreement was not a formal treaty and did not require Congressional ratification. It was quite appropriate for President Obama to sign on. It would be fine if the Donald could bring himself to realize that many international agreements are not perfect, and maybe some additions or changes are appropriate. But It also would be fine if he were to respect the other major powers that participated in the drafting of the agreement. He would prefer to be the monarch that could say yea or nay all by himself, but someone should remind him daily that the U.S. is not a monarchy!
8
Sorry Charles, the world sees an agreement signed by the President of the United States.....if the US pulls out of such signed agreement it just shows how untrustworthy they are to the rest of the world. That my friend is business 101, an agreement signed is a binding agreement....until the newest president decides its not. Thats not how it works and now the rest of the world is not so eager to deal with the USA because their word means nothing. You see how this works, right?
3
Macron deserves an award for allowing Trump to manhandle and humilate him in front of the world. Watching a grown man be led by the hand like a child by an old bully was disgusting. The only positive from this humiliating interaction is that the world knows Macron is slicker than our buffoon leader. He, unlike Trump, has a plan. Trump was happy for the opportunity to humiliate another man. This blinds him to the fact the other man is much smarter than he is. I am sure this is not the first time Trump has been outfoxed.
120
Trump appears to be outfoxed on a daily basis by Fox News, who encourages this tweeting preening presidential Bird, to sing and drop rancid pieces of cheesy news into its open jaws.
Macron shows signs of being a fast learner and knows his Fontaine.
8
The dandruff bit was awkward-- flower petals or pollen??
Trump seems to like to manhandle people he likes... or whose favor he wants to curry. Macron gets it!
(Better than being slpped hard on the back in any case.)
5
A breath of fresh air on the world stage. Yes, I am painfully aware of French fickleness and inability to even broach the idea that they have not always been the leaders of the world even before Macron came along to help them live up to their fairy tale belief. I hope Macron is successful beyond his wildest dreams. He certainly is prescient - recognizing that the ignoramus Trump is out of his element and that Merkle is struggling, the juxtaposition of which had provided him his opening.
15
Interesting.
Traditionally the President's inner circle works hard to shield the President from views that contradict what they (the aides) think the President should hear. So it's really, really tough for somebody who opposes White House policy to sit down with the President and persuade him of something new.
But when a prominent world leader wants to come to Washington and meet with the President...especially if the President in question is an insecure narcissist and the World Leader in question has done a good job making that President feel validated...it's very hard for those aides to keep it from happening.
Seen through that lens, Macron has stepped up and done what is necessary to keep Tehran from disappearing into a cloud of radioactive vapor.
16
It could not have been put more succinctly by President Macron: "There is no planet B." Trump does not seem to think of alternatives as it is his way or not at all, but put the big issues into planetary terms was brilliant.
28
Everything Macron said makes sense. I hope Trump puts his ego aside and listen, for the benefit not only of the United States, but of the whole world.
23
As if...
Le jour de gloire est arrivé?
17
It's encouraging to see a world leader command respect for reasons other than having a big stick. Macron's meetings with our President (I enjoy choking on words) are a study in contrasts that also generates depression.
Perhaps fantasy, but I like to imagine a world in which the US, France, Germany, and other responsible European countries (or any others who share common objectives) form a coalition that shows collective leadership that successfully takes on various world-wide problems. Perhaps Macron will be the catalyst in creating such a world, after our President (more choking) decides to realize the true meaning of his MAGA slogan or after he can no longer be a source of embarrassment at home and abroad.
Speaking of abroad, I'm still trying to understand the negative attitudes directed at Europe or the rest of the world by The Base. Perhaps it's in part because so few of them have ever been there and made to realize our similarities in terms of problems and our legitimate differences in how to successfully address those problems. There IS merit in having a 3-pronged electrical plug!
106
Yes. Our two oceans are at once our greatest security assets and our greatest realpolitic scourges.
14
Roger: France is so lucky to have a legitimate leader who knows how to present himself on the world stage. Alas, if only we had one such, to accommodate his good ideas. Great column, as ever.
153
I'm still laughing at the trip Trump took to France where he was taken to view Napoleon's final resting place. No one, I mean, no one I know has ever been there on a trip to France with all of the other fabulous places to visit. Our little ego Trumpet does not realize he is being played.
14
Napoleon’s Tomb is incredible-staring down at the top of the sarcophagus can be a somber experience-and the Church the tomb is in also is the final resting place of many French miltary heroes-it is worth a visit
MickNamVet: Agree with you. Sadly, we had a "legitimate leader who knows how to present himself on the world stage" - Obama - and look how the GOP treated him.
16
I have witnessed a little secondary effect of the Macron Factor and how he changed perceptions. I live in a place where many of my neighbors come from around the world to spend some time in their second homes. Some of them are French. most of them, friends. One French couple started their immigration process by seeking a resident visa.
It is a long process which began before Trump or Macron were elected. When they were finally granted their visas, both presidents were in office and, they changed their minds. The French couple will come back just for vacation. They will not immigrate to the US.
There is a difference when a country leader inspires respect. It is not Trump.
335
Errata: (after I clicked on the wrong place, I meant to click on reply) It should read ".. a country's leader.." instead of "country leader..."
9
I agree wholeheartedly with Cohen's appraisal of the role of Macron in terms of being a counterweight to Trump, opening up Trump's eyes to other perspectives in terms of the Iran deal, and serving as a force of Western unity between the two nations.
Macron has proved, in public image and through statements he has made, that he is no shrinking violet vis-a-vis the WH occupant. The non-threatened handshake Macron endured at an earlier conference of Euro-US, along with the double kisses on the cheek, along with an articulate and well-crafted speech made in this country, lift his presence and stock as a world leader greatly.
177
Okay, Macron; thanks.
Mais, the biggest benefit, if he is able, could be Macron's shaming/imploring/convincing Trump to recommit to the Paris Climate Accords. The US needs to lead in that area, not cower in a corner, like Trump and the handmaidens of the fossil fuel industries in Washington (and elsewhere) have been doing.
167
Never happen. All of that for naught.
Macron was elected, not because the French are suddenly in love with his neo-Reganesque trickle-down ideas, but because he was not Marine Le Pen. In short, he got lucky. And already he is in trouble at home: for instance, his proposals to cut the pension benefits of the poorest French while simultaneously giving billionaires a tax break have not been well received. His ideas are dangerous for French workers, and he is not someone to be idolized.
69
You misrepresent his CSG increase and ISF change. And the parliamentary elections gave him a majority in parlement following his election while Le Pen and the National Front are imploding with nearly no representation. The socialists and republicans are a mess and Melonchen (sp) is a self-absorbed disaster.
The French are wary and like to complain but things are moving. We’ll see how the strikes play out.
3
Jean-Luc Melenchon - one of the main reasons the (seriously divided) French left did not have a candidate in the final round of their presidential elections last year.
President Macron has become the "Trump Whisperer" and we should all be grateful for his efforts. He may have saved the collapse of the Iran agreement by making our thick-skulled POTUS that pulling out of the deal might send the wrong message to North Korea as to our sincerity in any talks about their nuclear arsenal. Macron seems to know the exact amount of flattery that Trump's narcissism demands for some serious conversations to ensue. Macron's speech to Congress was wonderful , but he also visited the MLK Memorial with John Lewis-a truly wonderful moment that wasn't covered enough. Vive Macron and Vive la France!
411
BETH REESE: If the IRAN DEAL were so popular with the American people, then Obama, who knows little about world affairs, and especially about the M.E. and depended for advice on his closest aide now real estate tycoon, Valerie Jarrette , born in the Islamic Republic and who speaks fluent FARSI,would have submitted the "agreement " to Congress, which he did not do out of fear it would not be approved.Also under O, a terrible deal maker, US would have paid off billions to world's greatest polluters, China and INDIA, with no reciprocity.Trump is a deal maker, and Iran agreement is a bad deal!O wanted the "agreement " for his legacy. SOME LEGACY! Recall also that 2 Koreas are now getting together and an "ndaba(pow-pow)" among our chief of state and N. KOREAN leaders is anticipated.What is there not to like? Cohen likes Macron because he is a "winner," and his constituency are winners, those who live in the cities, millions of whom believe in "delocalisation"at the expense of working class folks who have been forced to live in gruesome h.l.m.'s "en banlieue!"Macron's home town of AMIENS is a "zone interdite"for him because he supported, while economics minister, offshoring of industries essential to the city's survival!SOME WHISPERER!I like the idea that he and his "epouse "have adopted a stray mutt who wanders through Elysee Palace at will, so at least 1 can say that he is "un homme de coeur"in so far as helpless 4 legged creatures r concerned!
1
Alexander,
It may necessary to remind you that Trump has not made any deal yet, WH is an epic mess and world is bigger mess than it was before.
Good try with wrong man in wrong place
Egregious errors can't erase,
Though good sense was presented
The Truth is resented
And reality Trump can't face.
A very good try Monsieur M.
Your efforts were truly a gem
Trade War, Climate Change
To the Donald, words strange,
Earth's survival he's trying to stem.
83