Just as the saying goes that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, neither can you when it comes to 71-year-old former reality stars turned presidents with a long and storied history of misogyny and overall skeeviness towards women. While visiting France just in time for Bastille Day, on Thursday Donald and Melania Trump met with newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigette Macron in Paris — where the President may have incredibly outdone himself when it comes to awkward handshakes with the way he manhandled Mrs. Macron.
If only the poor woman’s ordeal ended there, however. Later in the visit, after a tour of Les Invalides with the two leaders and their wives, Trump turned to the French First Lady — who at 64 years old, is nearly 25 years older than her husband — and said, “You’re in such good shape! She’s in such good physical shape. Beautiful.” The video was first posted to Emmanuel Macron’s official Facebook page but soon after picked up by U.S. media outlets, including NBC News senior news editor Brady Jaffy.
Trump tells the First Lady of France, Brigitte Macron: “You’re in such good shape … beautiful”pic.twitter.com/tKCzX15cPl
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) July 13, 2017
As Macron and Trump bid goodbye to first ladies, Trump looks Brigitte up and down. 'She looks great.. beautiful' https://t.co/4X7D6qGFCI
— Adam Plowright (@ADAMPLOW) July 13, 2017
Given the previous tensions between Trump and Macron, it seems entirely possible that the creepiness was yet another one of the former’s trademark “power moves,” but then again, knowing Trump anything is possible.
Either way, his candor did not go unnoticed, as one user replied, “Look at her uncomfortable body language as she tries to duck a bit behind Melania and bring her forward,” while another responded, “Omg so inappropriate, she moved so quickly behind Melania who was probably embarrassed.”
Meanwhile, a few others on Twitter more accurately sum up how we all feel watching the video:
"You’re in such good shape … beautiful."
This is what President Trump said to the First Lady of France Brigitte Macron. pic.twitter.com/LFxF6byul1
— AJ+ (@ajplus) July 13, 2017
Actual footage of trump meeting the French first lady today pic.twitter.com/XZbaS4rUSg
— Megan Amram (@meganamram) July 13, 2017
"You're in such great shape!'" – construction worker at deli to college girl buying a Powerade, oh and President Trump to Macron's wife.
— Mr. Newberger (@jeremynewberger) July 13, 2017
(Via Politico)