Former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper defended President Donald Trump against French president Emmanuel Macron’s attack on nationalism during a centenary commemoration of the First World War Armistice over the weekend, saying the remark is the kind of elitism stoking the flames of populism worldwide.
“Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is treason,” Macron declared in his remarks before fellow world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian president Vladimir Putin, and President Trump.
“If we think our interests may only come first and we don’t care for others, it is a treason of our values, a betrayal of all moral values,” he added. “We must remember this.”
Harper told The National in an interview Monday that Macron’s admonition of nationalism was an example of “disconnected elitism” giving rise to populism across the world. Harper told the United Arab Emirates-based outlet:
That’s an example of disconnected elitism. Populations are naturally nationalistic and proud of their country, as they are in France by the way. So, you know, I mean this is the big reason why Trump is president. I don’t think you can fault Donald Trump. I don’t think it’s ever reasonable to fault the president of the United States for believing in the United States, any more than I would find fault with the president of France if he believed in France.
Responding to Macron’s eyebrow-raising rebuke, President Trump mocked the French president over his sagging approval rating and an unemployment rate more than double that of the United States.
“The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26 percent, and an unemployment rate of almost 10 percent,” President Trump tweeted. “He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!”
The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%. He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!……..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
“MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!” the president followed up with.
……MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
President Trump first publically declared himself a nationalist at a campaign rally in Houston, Texas with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). “A globalist is a person that wants the globe to do well, frankly, not caring about our country so much,” the president told the raucous crowd. “You know what I am? I’m a nationalist. Okay? A nationalist. Use that word.”
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