Trump says French president's decision to recognize Palestine as a state 'doesn't matter'
President Donald Trump just stated that French President Emmanuel Macron's recent decision to recognize Palestine as a state "doesn't matter."
Trump made the remark while speaking to reporters on Friday, Breitbart News reports.
Here's what he said:
BREAKING: President Trump on French President Macron wanting to recognize a Palestinian state:
"Here’s the good news, what he says doesn’t matter. His statement doesn’t carry any weight."
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) July 25, 2025
Background
The Associated Press reported on Thursday that Macron has decided to recognize Palestine as a state.
Per the outlet:
Macron said in a post on X that he will formalize the decision at the U.N. General Assembly in September. “The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved,’' he wrote.
Indeed, Macron's message can be read here.
He, in part, wrote:
In line with France's historic commitment to a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine. I will announce this in an official statement at the United Nations General Assembly next September. The utmost urgency now is to halt the fighting in Gaza and provide assistance to the civilian population. Peace is possible.
The move was swiftly condemned by many, including Israel, which said, "We strongly condemn President Macron’s decision. Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it."
Trump weighs in
President Trump was asked about Macron's move on Friday, and the president had a rather blunt reply.
"Look, he’s a different kind of a guy. He’s okay — he’s a team player pretty much. He’s a good dude, but what he says doesn’t matter. It’s not going to change anything. The statement doesn’t carry any weight. He’s a very good guy, I like him, but that statement doesn’t carry weight," Trump said.
Fox News reports that, compared to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump here went easy on Macron.
The outlet writes:
Rubio called France’s recognition "reckless" and a "slap in the face" to victims of the October 7 Hamas attack shortly after Macron made the announcement on Thursday. "The United States strongly rejects French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly," Rubio wrote on X.
"This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th," Rubio is quoted as writing.
