French President Emmanuel Macron criticized President Donald Trump on Monday, labeling him as “anti-European” while indicating that Europe is becoming “anti-Macronian.” Macron has become one of Trump’s strongest opponents within the EU, although this has not significantly helped his popularity back in France. Currently, he holds the title of Europe’s least popular leader, with a meager approval rating of around 16%, according to a recent public opinion poll.
Even with low approval at home, Macron continues to publicly challenge the Trump administration. He stated that the U.S. government is “openly anti-European,” showing a clear disdain for the EU and aiming to dismantle it. This perspective was conveyed in interviews with the Financial Times, Le Monde, and other outlets.
Touching upon a recent dispute over Greenland, where Trump threatened tariffs against European countries opposing U.S. claims over the territory, Macron mentioned that the situation “is not over yet.” He expressed that, in response to acts of aggression, Europe shouldn’t simply bow down or seek reconciliation—an approach he found ineffective after several months. He referred to the entire Greenland incident as the “Greenland moment,” cautioning European leaders against complacency.
In his diplomatic address earlier this year, Macron advocated against what he described as a return to “new colonialism.” He emphasized the importance of safeguarding European industries like chemicals, steel, automobiles, and defense.
“Right now, we are facing two major nations that no longer adhere to World Trade Organization rules,” he stated, implying that the U.S. and China might alter fair trade terms adversely, unless Europe acts to protect its interests.
Macron also anticipated conflicts between the EU and the Trump administration this year, particularly concerning digital privacy, so-called “hate speech,” and taxes on digital services. He predicted that the U.S. would challenge European digital regulations soon and suggested that tariffs might be imposed if the U.S. feels its companies are being improperly regulated under the Digital Services Act.
On February 3, it was revealed that French authorities conducted a raid on the Paris offices of Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, as part of a meanwhile ongoing probe initiated over a year ago. This investigation now involves allegations of misuse of algorithms and the distribution of illegal content.
Despite Macron’s assertions regarding Trump’s views, the U.S. president has publicly stated at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he believes Europe is “not headed in the right direction.” Furthermore, the U.S. remains committed to NATO while urging European nations to bolster their defenses. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker mentioned that the U.S. expects Europe to take on a more significant role in defense alongside maintaining the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
The national defense strategy released by the Trump administration last December emphasized the critical nature of the U.S.-European alliance, while also highlighting the necessity for increased European contributions to their own defense capabilities, noting that demographic shifts within NATO could impact its unity.
Macron stands out as the least favored leader in Europe compared to figures like German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at 21%, British Chancellor Keir Starmer at 23%, Dutch Chancellor Dick Schuch at 31%, and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker at 33%. These approval ratings were gathered in a survey conducted between February 2nd and February 8th and reflect averages among adults in each respective country.
