About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 11, 2018)
6C Sunday, November 11,2018 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com WORLD After spat, Trump calls French president good friend THIBAULT CAMUS I Associated Press French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and U.S. President Donald Trump give a thumbs up at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Saturday, Nov.10. BY JILL COLVIN AND DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press PARIS — President Don ald Trump and French Presi dent Emmanuel Macron tried to project unity Satur day after Trump lashed out at one of America’s strongest allies in Europe, claiming Macron insulted the United States when he pushed the idea of the continent having its own defense force. The American and French leaders, who have had an up-and-down relationship, told reporters they were good friends before going behind closed doors for talks at the Elysee Palace. It was Trump’s first stop on a week end trip to Paris where doz ens of world leaders were gathering to commemorate Sunday’s 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Trump also had been scheduled to visit the Aisne- Marne American Cemetery at Belleau Wood on Satur day, but canceled because of rainy weather that grounded the presidential helicop ter. The president was criticized for not finding a way to get to the cemetery, which is about a two-hour drive east of Paris, where Americans killed in World War I are buried. The White House sent a delegation that included chief of staff John Kelly in his place. The dustup over European security, which threatened to divert attention from the weekend’s somber remem brance ceremonies, was just the latest example of fallout from Trump’s unpredictable brand of Twitter-assisted diplomacy. His fractious, destabiliz ing relationship with Europe has driven a wedge between the U.S. and some of its old est allies on issues including trade, defense spending and his seeming deference to their looming neighbor to the east, Russia’s Vladimir Putin. It also underscored the hot-and-cold relationship that Trump has had with Macron, who has increas ingly branded himself as a bulwark against the rising tide of Trump-style national ism across Europe. The brouhaha began Friday night, when Trump unleashed an angry Twit ter jab at his host just as Air Force One touched down in Paris. Trump tweeted that Macron “has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the U.S., China and Russia. Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the U.S. subsi dizes greatly!” Trump’s tweet was espe cially wounding to Macron. Macron’s office said Trump had misunderstood the French leaders’ comments, lumping together two differ ent ideas. Macron had said in an interview that Europe needs to protect itself against cyber threats and the “inter ference in our democra cies” from “China, Russia and even the United States.” Later, he made the case that Europe needs to build up its own military because it can no longer depend on the U.S. for defense. The two men struck a more friendly tone as they opened their meeting at the grand presidential residence. “We want to help Europe but it has to be fair. Right now, the burden-sharing has been largely on the United States,” Trump said. Trump has long com plained about uncompen sated U.S. defense spending that benefits allies, and ear lier this year threatened to turn his back on NATO if members didn’t boost their defense spending. Trump said Macron “understands that and he understands the United States can only do so much.” Macron defended his viewpoint, saying he shares Trump’s insistence there be more burden sharing. He said it’s “unfair to have the European security today being assured just by the United States,” but did not respond to a question about why he felt France needed protection from the U.S. The episode was the lat est example of a frequent Trump pattern: introduc ing tension before meeting with a world leader, then playing nice when they’re face-to-face. Before Trump traveled to Britain earlier this year, he gave an interview to a British tabloid in which he insulted British Prime Minister The resa May’s approach to the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. Trump said her political nemesis would make a great prime minister. Migrant caravan heads north after departing Mexico City Central American migrants gather outside a subway station after leaving a temporary shelter in the Jesus Martinez stadium, in Mexico City, Friday, Nov. 9. BY CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN Associated Press MEXICO CITY - Thou sands of Central American migrants were back on the move toward the U.S. border Saturday, after dedicated Mexico City metro trains whisked them to the outskirts of the capital and drivers began offering rides north. At the Line 2 terminus, migrants began making their way to a main highway to resume walking and hitch hiking with the approval of Mexican officials. Near a major toll plaza about 19 miles north of the city, Mexico state police and human rights officials helped load men, women and children onto eighteen- wheelers and asked pass ing buses and trucks if they would carry migrants. Maria Yesenia Perez, a 41-year-old who left La Ceiba, Honduras nearly a month ago with her 8-year- old daughter, said she was prepared to wait to gain entry at the U.S. border. “I decided to come (with the caravan) to help my fam ily,” she said, before she and her daughter were hoisted onto a semitrailer. Perez is now one of roughly 4,000 migrants who plan to proceed to the city of Queretaro — a state capital 124 miles to the northwest — and then possibly to Guada lajara, Culiacan, Hermosillo and eventually Tijuana on the U.S. border. Whereas migrants like her carried tiny knapsacks with bare essentials in Mexi co’s tropical south, however, their belongings swelled noticeably after a multiday stop in Mexico City. Many are now hauling bundles of blankets and heavy clothing to protect against colder temperatures in the northern part of the country. Some left the capi tal with bottles of water and clear plastic bags of bananas and oranges for the long trek. Others were given juice and ham sandwiches from volunteers as they set out. Astrid Aguilar, who was traveling with two cousins aged 3 and 4, lined up along side the highway to await a chance at hitching a ride. “You can’t find work there,” she said of her home country of Honduras. The caravan became a campaign issue in U.S. midterm elections and U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of over 5,000 military troops to the border to fend off the migrants. Trump has also insinuated without proof that there are criminals or even terrorists in the group. Many migrants say they are fleeing rampant poverty, gang violence and political instability primarily in the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala, RODRIGO ABD I Associated Press El Salvador and Nicaragua, and they have now been on the road for weeks. The longest leg of the jour ney still lay ahead. On Thursday, the U.N. rejected a demand by cara van representatives for buses to the border, saying its agencies were “unable to provide the transportation demanded by some mem bers of the caravan.” Mexico City is over 600 miles from the nearest U.S. border crossing at McAllen, Texas, but the area around the Mexican border cities of Reynosa, Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo is rife with drug gangs and the migrants consider it too risky. Migrants are now taking a still perilous, but safer and longer route to Tijuana in Mexico’s far northwest, across from San Diego. Off AFC Ankle & Foot Centi of North Georgia AnkIeFoot-Centers.com For appointments please call: (706) 265-6600 Ankle & Foot Centers of North Georgia specializes in the latest in conservative and surgical management of conditions of the foot and ankle. Dr. Eric Kron uses the most advanced techniques for foot and ankle disorders, arthritis and injuries to return you to activity as soon as possible. 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