French President Emmanuel Macron has bit back at Trump following his attempts to undermine NATO. Pointing to the US Presidents repeated attacks which he says has created “daily doubt about his commitment” to the North Atlantic alliance, Macron tells Trump to “be serious”.
Yesterday, the US President once again went to the media, making comments that appear designed to pressure the alliance into bending to his will.
However, it appears Macron is not for giving in — even going so far as to try to educate Trump on diplomacy:
We need to be serious, and if you want to be serious, you don’t go around saying the opposite of what you said the day before.
BREAKING
: Macron is TROLLING Trump at epic level
Macron: “When we are serious, we do not say the opposite of what we said the day before. Perhaps we should not speak every day.”
Bro calmly telling Trump that he is a big clown.
pic.twitter.com/Aupk0u3Sj8
— InfoGram (@_InfoGram_) April 2, 2026
‘Perhaps we should not speak every day’ says Macron
The US and Israel began its illegal war on Iran at the end of February, and with typical Western duplicity, the bombs began falling whilst Iranian officials were at the negotiating table. Consequently, the Middle East has descended into chaos with Iran using its inalienable right to self-defence by targetting US bases and interests in their neighbouring states.
Unsurprisingly, Iran has also used its proximity and access to the Strait of Hormuz to make this egregious violation of international law as expensive as possible for the West. A pretty strong strategic move, really.
Now the Western world is seeing consequences for its complicity in the US’ colonialist actions, Trump is changing his rhetoric daily in an attempt to seemingly save face.
The main challenge for Trump is to declare victory without being able to open the Strait of Hormuz: “Let France do it… Let the European countries do it… Let South Korea do it… Let Japan do it… This was not part of what I wanted to do” pic.twitter.com/0GCnqocxp9
— Glenn Diesen (@Glenn_Diesen) April 2, 2026
Thankfully, Macron is no longer being backwards about coming forwards and has confronted the President’s ridiculous political gameplaying.
In an interview whilst on a state visit in Seoul in South Korea, Macron stated:
I believe that organisations and alliances like Nato are defined by what is left unsaid – that is, the trust that underpins them, and that has often been the case, incidentally, with military and strategic matters.
If you cast doubt on your commitment every day, you erode its very substance.
We need to be serious, and if you want to be serious, you don’t go around saying the opposite of what you said the day before.
I think there is too much talk.
The French President then argued that the only way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is through dialogue and diplomatic cooperation with Iran. Lambasting the tactic of US military might forcing it open as “unrealistic”, he says the risks are too great for navies involved and seeks peace rather than any involvement in the US/Israel war on Iran.
China: Illegal war and US-Israeli strikes responsible for fall out
China has today declared the war to be illegal and positioned the blame for the impact to global energy costs solely at the feet of the tyrants who started dropping bombs in the first place:
JUST IN:
China says US-Israeli strikes against Iran is “illegal” and is what caused the Strait of Hormuz to close. pic.twitter.com/KEW2LhDQX9
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) April 2, 2026
A reminder that it is only complicit states who are being punished by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, which is responsible for the transit of roughly a quarter of global oil trade:
BREAKING: Iran assures the Philippines that it will allow Philippine-bound and Philippine-flagged ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Department of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement Thursday, April 2, that Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro spoke with… pic.twitter.com/NV7bX53uLw
— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) April 2, 2026
Like in previous aggressions, some have suggested the US’ main interest is to weaken China, who have long overshadowed the US in the size and health of its economy. Specifically, they depend on the Strait of Hormuz far more than Western countries.
Nevertheless, Iran has shown it values loyalty and a commitment to the rule of law over and above power plays and the instinct for collective punishment we so often see in the West.
Everyone keeps saying Iran ‘closed’ the Strait of Hormuz. They didn’t close it. They’re deciding who gets through.
China, India, now the Philippines 9 days after declaring an energy emergency. If you stayed out of the war, you get your oil. If you didn’t, good luck.
It’s a… https://t.co/zk1pOljP0K
— The Hormuz Letter (@HormuzLetter) April 2, 2026
Play by the rules or fuck off
It is undeniable that we currently live in a world order in which powerful white men seek to throw the rule book out the window, like in Iraq and other western invasions. Unlike in 2003 however, it appears world leaders are finally pushing back against sensationalist statements and war-baiting from politicians corrupted by billionaires and the military machine.
Spain has gone far further than most, banning use of its air space and its bases by the US military. Whilst France’s intervention is welcome, Macron could go a hell of a lot further and see a far greater impact.
After all, this moment offers a chance to prioritise the rule of law, as the world receives yet another reminder of why an international rules-based system exists in the first place.
Featured image via PBS
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