Macron's 'fact check' of Trump delights social media, some recall Modi's US visit

During his recent visit to the United States, French President Emmanuel Macron openly disagreed with US President Donald Trump on key issues related to the Russia-Ukraine war, with Macron directly countering Trump’s claims about US funding for the war, fact-checking him so swiftly that it was almost like watching a professor correct an overly confident student in the middle of a class presentation — except this time, the whole world was watching.

Macron also opposed Trump’s call for Ukraine to provide compensation for the war, instead arguing that "Russia must compensate for the war" since it was the latter which started the war by invading Ukraine exactly three years ago on 24 February 2022. He also firmly condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for the 2022 Bucha massacre, reinforcing France’s position on holding Russia accountable.

The duo's public disagreement quickly went viral, with many on social media treating the clash like a reality TV episode, complete with X fights and memes comparing Macron to a school principal scolding a particularly unruly student.

Among many Indian netizens, the incident seemed to bring back memories of the recent US visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who appeared to treat Trump with the kind of deference usually reserved for royalty — or at the very least, for an intimidating in-law. Others pointed out the warmth with which Trump received Macron, vis-a-vis Modi's reception by an unnamed US official at the entrance to the White House.

Later, Modi’s interactions with the US President were marked by an eagerness to align with Trump’s rhetoric, most notably on the matter of illegal Indian immigrants to the US being sent back to India in cuffs and shackles, and the extravagant statements Trump made about high tariffs on US imports to India, which he said would no longer be applicable.

In similar sweeping fashion, when the topic of financial aid for Ukraine arose, Trump reiterated his long-standing claim that the US was contributing far more than European nations. Macron wasted no time in responding, gently touching Trump’s arm before carefully setting the record straight, as if calming down an excitable uncle at Thanksgiving dinner.

The French President emphasised that European nations had provided significant assistance ("about 60 per cent"), not merely in the form of loans, as Trump suggested. The moment was widely shared online, with some joking that Macron’s diplomatic patience deserved its own award.

Unlike Macron, who relishes a good debate, our PM has often preferred to play it safe, nodding along enthusiastically and avoiding direct confrontations on critical issues like trade disputes and visa restrictions affecting Indian professionals.

While Macron’s visit underscored a leader unafraid to spar intellectually with Trump, Modi’s engagements suggested a leader more inclined to maintain harmony — sometimes at the cost of assertiveness, or at least, at the cost of saying anything that might ruffle Trump’s famously delicate feathers.

Ultimately, Macron’s ability to challenge Trump without compromising diplomatic ties highlights his strategic assertiveness, whereas Modi’s approach, often perceived as overly accommodating, reflects a careful balancing act — one that critics argue leans too much toward appeasement.