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Trump sees the EU for the bully it is: Macron wants to pretend like Europe is treated unjustly
The Spectator ^ | 01/21/2026 | Gavin Mortimer

Posted on 01/21/2026 9:24:51 AM PST by SeekAndFind

There has always been a touch of the actor about Emmanuel Macron, and the President of France was at his theatrical best at Davos on Tuesday. Sporting a pair of aviator sunglasses to conceal a broken blood vessel in his eye, Macron played the part of a man unjustly treated.

Not just him, but all of Europe. “We do prefer respect to bullies,” concluded Macron in his address to the World Economic Forum. “We do prefer science to plotism, and we do prefer rule of law to brutality. You are welcome in Europe and you are more than welcome to France.”

Macron didn’t mention Donald Trump by name but the audience understood that he was the big bad bully the French President had in mind.

It’s a role that Macron has himself played in the past, as well as some of his predecessors in the Elysee Palace. In 2008, for example, Ireland voted against the EU treaty, which was designed to overhaul the bloc’s institutions. The then-president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, declared that “the Irish will have to vote again.”

As the Guardian remarked at that time, "What part of Ireland's 'No' does the EU not understand?".

So the Irish were forced to vote again and fortunately -- For the EU, at least -- they voted the correct way the second time around.

(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bullying; eu; europe

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1 posted on 01/21/2026 9:24:51 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
The US being in NATO is like dating a whole harem of old AWFULs. We give them money, stability and protection. What do we get in return? Scolds.

We better not attack America because the French will get us. Said no Russian ever!

2 posted on 01/21/2026 9:33:11 AM PST by Kudsman (47 is making things right again. )
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To: SeekAndFind
Trump sees the EU for the bully it is: Macron wants to pretend like Europe is treated unjustly

Exactly!


3 posted on 01/21/2026 9:34:17 AM PST by Navy Patriot (President Trump Decisively Won, Celebrate Recivilization!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Patton said he’d rather have the Germans in front of him than the French behind him.


4 posted on 01/21/2026 9:38:38 AM PST by Flag_This (They're lying.)
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To: Kudsman
Screw the EU, Good and Hard, then Screw the EU, Good and Hard Again.

Slap 'em with 100% Tariffs, that'll teach 'em!

5 posted on 01/21/2026 9:39:32 AM PST by Navy Patriot (President Trump Decisively Won, Celebrate Recivilization!)
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To: SeekAndFind

I suspect that Brigette slapped Marcon again and this was why he needed sunglasses indoors.


6 posted on 01/21/2026 9:40:04 AM PST by srmanuel
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To: srmanuel

Most likely.


7 posted on 01/21/2026 9:41:28 AM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: SeekAndFind

IMO Europe is trying to reclaim its King of the Hill status it held until the early 20th century. The rate of their decline is advancing at a faster pace while they do nothing but add another layer of bureaucracy, pound on the desk, and look down their nose at the US.


8 posted on 01/21/2026 9:42:04 AM PST by ryderann
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To: SeekAndFind

WIFEY SMACK HIM AGAIN???


9 posted on 01/21/2026 9:45:28 AM PST by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: Navy Patriot

But if we are ever attacked, the Brits will be coming to our aid! Lol. Those Euros sure love their article 5. Like the mouthy cousin that always got you into a fight.


10 posted on 01/21/2026 9:45:38 AM PST by Kudsman (47 is making things right again. )
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To: ryderann

Islamic republic(?) Of Europe. Coming soon.......


11 posted on 01/21/2026 9:46:01 AM PST by rktman (Destroy America from within? On hold! Enlisted USN 1967 proudly. 🚫💉! 🇮🇱🙏! Winning currently!)
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To: SeekAndFind

“...if you don’t, we’ll remember.” The phrase that will live in history: simple, honest and powerful. Not a threat, not a whine, but something that reminds the world that actions have consequences. Kudos to President’s speechwriter...


12 posted on 01/21/2026 9:51:21 AM PST by exinnj
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To: Kudsman
But if we are ever attacked, the Brits will be coming to our aid!

Just don't hold your breath.

13 posted on 01/21/2026 9:53:21 AM PST by Navy Patriot (President Trump Decisively Won, Celebrate Recivilization!)
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To: ryderann

In terms of economy, The USA is 26% of the world’s GDP, approaching 27%, the EU share ( 27 countries ) is about 17%.

- In the mid‑2000s, the EU accounted for roughly 22–24% of world GDP (nominal).

- In 2025, the EU accounts for only ~16–17% of world GDP.

That is a drop of about 6–8 percentage points, or roughly one‑third of its former global weight. Meanwhile, global GDP has grown rapidly, and the EU has not kept pace.

The reason is STRUCTURAL and I’m afraid is probably hard to reverse. The EU’s population is aging and barely growing.

This limits:

- labor‑force expansion

- productivity growth

- domestic demand

Meanwhile, emerging economies (India, Southeast Asia, Africa) are expanding rapidly.

By contrast:

In 2011, the U.S. share of global GDP hit a low of 21.1%.
By 2024, the U.S. share had risen to 26.3%.

That is a 5.2‑percentage‑point increase, or roughly a 25% rise in the U.S. share of the world economy.

This is a dramatic reversal compared to most advanced economies, which have lost global share.

The U.S. outperformed them in:

- productivity
- population growth
- technology adoption
- post‑crisis recoveries

And despite our shrinking birthrate ( actually ABORTION is a factor ), we’re still getting talented immigrants to the country ( yes, inspite of the illegals that Biden brought in ).


14 posted on 01/21/2026 9:54:51 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: rktman; ryderann
Islamic republic Of Europe. Coming soon.......

Created Jizya for you!

15 posted on 01/21/2026 9:57:45 AM PST by Navy Patriot (President Trump Decisively Won, Celebrate Recivilization!)
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To: SeekAndFind
.
16 posted on 01/21/2026 10:03:49 AM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (The Democrats' official policy is now, “Hate, Violence and Murder". Change my mind.)
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To: SeekAndFind

So the Irish were forced to vote again and fortunately — For the EU, at least — they voted the correct way the second time around.

Who’s “correct” way?


17 posted on 01/21/2026 10:04:52 AM PST by ro_dreaming (Who knew "Idiocracy", "1984", "Enemy of the State", and "Person of Interest" would be non-fiction?)
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To: srmanuel

Good observation.


18 posted on 01/21/2026 10:15:11 AM PST by Tommy Revolts
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To: ridesthemiles

Perhaps.


19 posted on 01/21/2026 10:18:33 AM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: rktman

And the euroweenies will have only themselves to blame.


20 posted on 01/21/2026 10:19:12 AM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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