France’s President Emmanuel Macron appealed to the US on Wednesday to uphold the postwar world order that it had helped create in a bold address to Congress that took aim at Donald Trump’s isolationist rhetoric.
Capping off a three-day state visit that appeared to cement his personal relationship with the US president, Mr Macron backed women’s rights, the Paris climate accord, free trade pacts and democracy, while opposing authoritarian leaders and “fake news”.
“Personally, if you ask me, I do not share the fascination for new strong powers, the abandonment of freedom and the illusion of nationalism,” he said in a speech regularly interrupted by applause and standing ovations.