Emmanuel Macron, President of France, has just capped his three-day visit to the U.S by addressing a joint session of Congress. According to Reuters, “Macron is the eighth French president to address a joint meeting of Congress, and the first since Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007.” His speech, however, clearly showed a disconnect between Trump’s and Macron’s beliefs on certain political issues.
France's Macron says U.S. should not ditch Iran deal without new accord https://t.co/OqypRjatIO
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 25, 2018
Macron urged the U.S to stay in the Iran nuclear deal, arguing that while it’s not the ideal agreement, “… we should not abandon it without having something substantial and more substantial instead.”
Macron just slammed Trump’s worldview in a rare address to Congress https://t.co/1CVlTUhbvh
— Vox (@voxdotcom) April 25, 2018
The French leader also took President Trump to task over his policies promoting isolationism and protectionism, advocating that nothing good can come from shutting the world out. “[It] will not stop the evolution of the world,” Macron declared.
"There is no Planet B."
French President Macron breaks with President Trump on climate change: https://t.co/cs69uNw8KF pic.twitter.com/KxEso1UPn7
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 25, 2018
Macron’s main criticism was Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Accords. He warned Congress that unless more action is taken, the environmental crisis will only worsen and make life much more difficult. “Let us face it, there is no Planet B,” he grimly stated.
Great admonition from @EmmanuelMacron to Congress on climate change:
“There is no Planet B!”
Are the guys behind him listening? pic.twitter.com/bE3M7Mak3k— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) April 25, 2018
It has been too long since a President delivered a speech in Washington about the need to defend democracy and support international cooperation. Thank you, @EmmanuelMacron for your powerful words and stirring call to action.
— Madeleine Albright (@madeleine) April 25, 2018