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DONALD TRUMP

Trump’s ‘inappropriate’ comments about Brigitte Macron’s body mar Paris visit

The US president's trip to Paris appeared to be going fairly smoothly until he was overheard commenting to the French first lady about her body.

Published: 14 July 2017 09:05 CEST
Trump's 'inappropriate' comments about Brigitte Macron's body mar Paris visit
Photo: AFP

Donald Trump's first state visit to France has been marred by comments he was heard making to Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. 

Trump, who is no stranger to landing himself in hot water over comments about women, complimented the French first lady for “being in such good shape”.

The comments were picked up by the Elysée Palace's official cameras as they followed the US President and wife Melania on a trip to the museum at the Hôtel des Invalides alongside the French president and his wife.

After the tour, 71-year-old Trump turned to 64-year-old Brigitte Macron and gestured towards her saying: “You're in such good shape”.

He then repeated the comment to Macron himself saying “she's in such good shape” before saying the word “beautiful”.

Emmanuel Macron can be heard saying what appears to be “yes”.

It wasn't clear how Brigitte Macron reacted, but she appeared to pass over the remark.

While the French president and first lady didn't appear to make too much of it, social media took on the job of expressing their anger calling Trump sexist.

“#Trump telling France's First Lady 'you're in such good shape' epitomizes men toeing the line between compliment & sexual harassment,” wrote Twitter user Alex Berg (@AlexfromPhilly), a freelance video producer and writer who works on feminist and gender issues.

Jen Siebel Newsom, a documentary maker and actress, (@JenSiebelNewsom) said on Twitter: “Mr. Trump – Women do not want to hear unsolicited remarks on what you think of their bodies. Its gross, and deeply inappropriate.”

The White House declined to comment on the exchange.

There was another awkward moment between Trump and Brigitte Macron when the pair embraced when they first met.

Trump is known for his crushing handshakes and he appeared to give Brigitte Macron the usual treatment as she tried to release her hand from his grasp.

The incidents didn't appear to damage relations between the heads of state who later showed more evidence of their growing “bromance” at a joint press conference before the two couples dined together at the Eiffel Tower.

 

 

 

 

AMBASSADOR

Trump’s ambassador to Denmark leaves country as president’s term ends

After three years as United States Ambassador to Denmark, Carla Sands has stepped down from the post and left Copenhagen.

Published: 20 January 2021 13:07 CET
Trump’s ambassador to Denmark leaves country as president’s term ends
Outgoing United States Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands. Photo: Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix

The now-former ambassador confirmed she had taken leave of the Danish capital via Twitter.

US president Donald Trump’s term ends on Wednesday, with President-elect Joe Biden to be inaugurated at 6pm Danish time.

“It's been a privilege serving the Trump Administration for over 3 years as U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark. I’ve enjoyed promoting USA-Denmark-Faroe Islands-Greenland relations,” Sands tweeted.

“I have departed Copenhagen,” she added in a follow-up tweet.

In a video included in the tweets, Sands mentions her highlights of her time as ambassador. These include the re-opening of the US consulate in Greenland capital Nuuk alongside US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Sands, who took over as ambassador in 2017 after being appointed by Trump, is likely to be remembered as the incumbent at the time of Trump’s overtures towards purchasing Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Danish kingdom.

After Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismissed Trump’s suggestion that the United States could buy the Arctic territory from Denmark, the US president promptly cancelled an official visit to Denmark scheduled for September 2019.

Sands met with the Danish government on several occasions in an attempt to take the heat out of a potential diplomatic dispute.

READ ALSO: Danes pour scorn on Trump after state visit postponement

More recently, Sands was criticised for tweeting an incorrect claim that her own vote had not been counted in the country's general election.

The ambassador posted on her personal Twitter account a screenshot which she claimed showed her absentee ballot in the state of Pennsylvania had not been registered. She also made several other posts on the site following the US election in support of Trump's baseless claims of election fraud.

Several other Twitter users – as well as the New York Times – looked up Sands' vote on the Pennsylvania state government website and found it was in fact registered.

READ ALSO: US ambassador to Denmark makes incorrect Twitter claim about own vote

After a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building in Washington DC on January 6th, Sands was officially contacted by foreign minister Jeppe Kofod. The minister called for Trump to concede defeat in the election and ensure a peaceful transition of power.

Newspaper Berlingske reported that this was the first time in history that a Danish foreign minister had officially protested over internal affairs in the United States.

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