US President Donald Trump attacked France in a televised interview in which he evoked “problems” with the country, and accused it of unfairly taxing American products. The barb came during a discussion on foreign students where he appeared to shift his position on allowing foreign students attend universities in the United States.
In an interview with US broadcaster Fox News, a discussion between Trump and presenter Laura Ingraham about foreign students coming to the United States turned into a harsh critique of France.
When Ingraham questioned him on the enrolment of Chinese students at US universities, saying, "they're not the French, they're the Chinese. They spy on us. They steal our intellectual property," Trump answered: "Do you think the French are better, really?… I'm not so sure”.
He then switched the focus from China to France’s taxation policies, which he said were a problem for the US.
Tariff war continues
"We've had a lot of problems with the French where we get taxed unfairly on our technology, where you know they put 25 percent taxes on American products," Trump said, likely referring to an amendment to France’s 2026 budget bill currently being debated in parliament that would establish a 25 percent minimum tax rate on profits made by multinationals based on their activities in France.
The measure was passed in the National Assembly but must still be approved by the conservative-controlled Senate, which could strike it down.
The National Assembly also voted to double a digital tax on global tech giants, aimed at American firms Google, Apple, Meta and others – against the government’s wishes.
Economy Minister Roland Lescure warned that a “disproportionate” tax would lead to “disproportionate” retaliatory measures.
Trump has previously said he would impose extra tariffs on countries that introduced discriminatory digital taxes.
Tension between Trump and Macron
Trump’s relationship with French President Emmanuel Macron has had tensions in his second term, notably over the war in Ukraine and especially after Macron recognised the Palestinian state, which Trump opposed.
Macron has been part European efforts to keep Trump providing military support of Ukraine against Russia, especially after he insisted that the continent fund its own defence through Nato.
Trump U-turn on foreign students
More surprising than the critique of France, however, was Trump’s apparent reversal of his administration’s hard line on China and his defence of his decision to issue 600,000 student visas for China, despite a backlash from some supporters.
“A lot of MAGA folks, um, are not thrilled about this idea of hundreds of thousands of foreign students in the United States,” Ingraham said
Trump argued that American universities depend on foreign students, and he does not want to destroy them by limiting enrolment, especially as they pay more than Americans.
“The students pay more than double when they come in from most foreign countries, I want to see our school system thrive,” he said: “It’s not that I want them, but I view it as a business.”
(with newswires)
