President Donald Trump criticizes France in a Fox News interview, questioning the French compared to Chinese students in US universities

President Donald Trump launched an unexpected critique of France on Monday during an interview with Fox News, saying: “We’ve had a lot of problems with the French.”

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The exchange came after Fox News host Laura Ingraham questioned Trump on the enrollment of Chinese students in American universities, noting: “They’re not the French, they’re the Chinese. They spy on us. They steal our intellectual property.”

Trump abruptly interjected, challenging the premise: “Do you think the French are better, really? I will tell you, I’m not so sure.”

Trump’s remark adds a new layer to his often contentious foreign policy commentary, even as he has maintained a publicly cordial, if sometimes theatrical, relationship with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Their interactions have included handshakes, backslapping, and playful gestures for the cameras.

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In September, Macron personally contacted Trump to report being delayed by the US presidential convoy in New York while rushing from the UN headquarters to a meeting, highlighting the ongoing nuances in US–France relations.