They don’t get it.
It wasn’t the Nationalism the NAZIs got wrong, it was the Socialism.
It wasn’t the Nationalism the NAZIs got wrong, it was the Socialism.
Well... I would not go so far as to accuse all socialists with putting masses of people in gas chambers, and other like Nazi horrors.
Granted that socialism has its horrors too - the situation in Venezuela is pretty ugly - but I think we should, as Macron was NOT, be careful with our definitions and associations.
The Nazis were many things including an extreme form of Nationalism: They were also air-breathers, they were very efficient at many things, and (at least early on) they had excellent situational awareness. Nationalism per its proper definition and typical practice is no more damnable than being an air-breather*, efficient, or having good situational awareness.
*Ok, I admit a few radical Greenies might disagree. :-)
However, in some quarters, nationalism's meaning has been twisted to equate "Nazi", or expression of racial superiority to the point of trying destroy or enslave supposedly "inferior" races. That is ridiculous: Virtually ANYTHING can be taken to evil and / or destructive extremes. Even freedom itself must be bounded by self-discipline, responsibility, and God's moral guidance. Ditto for Democracy, or, say, eating potato chips. (The latter is of course not "evil" itself, but in extreme, it can be self-destructive and can result in harmful consequences to oneself and their family.)
Maybe Trump could straighten Macron out on the matter, but Macron likely will not listen.