US President Donald Trump has come under fire once again for making inappropriate comments on a state visit, this time to the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron.
As Trump was introduced to Macron’s wife Brigitte, he said: “You’re in such good shape.” He then turned to the French President and repeated his comment, adding: “You’re in such good physical shape”.
A video of the comments was posted on Thursday, and his actions were quickly criticised on social media for being sexist and inappropriate.
#Trump telling France’s First Lady “you’re in such good shape” epitomizes men towing the line between compliment & sexual harassment. 1/
— Alex Berg (@AlexfromPhilly) July 13, 2017
People will shrug and say, “#Trump was just offering her a compliment!” It’s creepy and over the line to comment on a person’s body. 2/
— Alex Berg (@AlexfromPhilly) July 13, 2017
The comment is like catcalling — never about beauty, it’s about power. It’s a reminder that #Trump and men have power over our bodies. 3/
— Alex Berg (@AlexfromPhilly) July 13, 2017
The two leaders met in the French capital of Paris for Trump’s first state visit to the country, visiting the Hotel des Invalides, where Napoleon Bonaparte and other French heroes are buried, and dining at the Eiffel Tower.
Macron, a relative outsider to the Presidential race who took the seat in a surprise win earlier this year, has attracted controversy over the age difference with his wife. She is 25 years his senior – just one year greater than the age gap between US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania.
Both the White House and the French President’s office refused to comment on the exchange.