Trump, Macron Clash Over Palestinian Statehood at UNGA Meeting
On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron held talks that revealed sharp differences over the future of Gaza and Palestinian statehood.
According to CNN, Trump dismissed the idea of a two-state solution, insisting it would serve as a “reward” for Hamas. His comments came just days after France joined the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal in formally recognizing Palestine as a state.
At the start of the meeting, Trump lauded Macron’s role in international diplomacy, crediting him with helping to prevent conflicts around the world. “Emmanuel has actually helped me with a couple of the wars,” Trump said, responding to Macron’s earlier remark that if the U.S. leader wanted a Nobel Peace Prize, he should bring an end to the Gaza war.
Pressed on Palestinian statehood, Trump reiterated his opposition, arguing that such recognition would “honor Hamas.” “You can’t do that because of October 7. You can’t do that. But we want our hostages back,” he said, referring to the deadly attacks in Israel. He stressed, “People forget October 7 was one of the most savage days in the history of the world.”
Macron, sitting alongside Trump, countered by clarifying that recognizing a Palestinian state was not the same as overlooking the atrocities of October 2023.
The Gaza conflict erupted after Hamas launched its October 7 attacks on Israel, prompting Israel to respond with a sustained military offensive in the Strip.