Ex-French President Hollande Delivers Scathing Critique: Trump 'No Longer an Ally'

Former French President François Hollande has delivered a sharp rebuke of Donald Trump, stating in a recent interview that the former president and his administration are "no longer" allies of France. In a candid conversation with French news outlet Le Monde, Hollande, who left office in 2017, didn't mince words when analyzing Trump's recent re-emergence on the political stage. "Even if the American people remain our friends, the Trump administration itself is no longer our ally," Hollande declared. He went on to accuse Trump of "making pacts with our adversaries." Hollande suggests that Trump views the **U.S., Russia, and China as the only global powers** that matter, effectively sidelining Europe. He fears that Trump's true target is Europe, not China, hinting at a potential "divorce" between the U.S. and Europe. Given some of the international relations lately, he might have a point, right? The former French leader pointed to Trump's description of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "dictator," his willingness to engage in direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the U.S. vote against a U.N. resolution condemning Russia as factors contributing to this potential rift. Turning to NATO, Hollande emphasized the need for the alliance to prepare for a scenario where Trump might not uphold Article 5, the principle of collective defense. This article commits all NATO members to come to the aid of any member under armed attack. Despite the Trump administration's calls for European nations to bolster their defense capabilities and take greater responsibility for their security, there has been no official indication that the U.S. intends to withdraw from NATO. Hollande has been a long-standing critic of Trump. Back in 2016, while still in office, he openly supported Hillary Clinton and warned that Trump would be "dangerous" and would "complicate relations between Europe and the U.S." Interestingly, Trump recently met with Hollande's successor, French President Emmanuel Macron. Following a call with Group of Seven (G7) leaders, Trump claimed that "a lot of progress has been made" towards ending the war in Ukraine. He also described Macron as a "special man," reaffirming the U.S.'s desire to maintain its "very special" relationship with France. Macron reciprocated the sentiment, describing himself and Trump as "personal friends." He also stated, "Europe is willing to step up to be a stronger partner, to do more in defense and security for this continent, and as well to be a reliable partner and to be engaged in trade, economy, investment."