‘This isn’t a show’ — Macron rebukes Trump after mocking remarks about wife

French President Emmanuel Macron has dismissed remarks by US President Donald Trump about his marriage, saying they were “neither elegant nor up to standard” and not worth responding to.

“So I am not going to respond to them — they do not merit a response,” Macron said on Thursday during a visit to Seoul, where he was accompanied by his wife, Brigitte Macron.

While declining to engage directly, Macron used the moment to call for restraint and focus amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

“There is too much talk, and it’s all over the place,” he said.

“We all need stability, calm, a return to peace — this isn’t a show!”

Trump had earlier mocked Macron at a private lunch, criticising NATO allies and making jokes about the French president’s relationship. He imitated a French accent and said Macron’s wife “treats him extremely badly,” adding he was “still recovering from the right to the jaw.”

The comment referred to a widely circulated 2025 video from Vietnam, which Macron dismissed as a joke and part of a disinformation campaign.

The remarks drew criticism from French political leaders.

Yael Braun-Pivet said: “Honestly, it’s not up to par… we have a president who is laughing, who is mocking others,” while stressing the seriousness of global conflicts.

Opposition figure Manuel Bompard also condemned the comments, calling them “absolutely unacceptable” despite his political differences with Macron.

French newspaper Le Figaro described the incident as another controversial moment from Trump.

In a video posted briefly online, Trump recounted asking Macron for support in the Gulf, mocking his response and reiterating criticism of NATO, which he labelled a “paper tiger.”

He also questioned the alliance’s reliability in a major conflict.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that the United States may reconsider its ties with NATO after the Iran war.

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