Trump and Macron Aren’t Really an Odd Couple
They seem like opposites, but complement each other nicely.
Best friends.
Photograph: Getty Images Europe
The world seems fascinated by the strikingly warm rapport between Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron — one of those relationships that has many reaching for the cliched "bromance" label. Both men like to play up their friendship with long, vigorous hand-shakes and air kisses. They exchange endless smiling pleasantries and talk about how often they speak on the phone, like a cooing young couple.
The fascination is easy to understand given that Trump and Macron seem like opposites politically and symbolically — the champion of populism meets the paladin of globalism. And yet, politically, their rapport makes sense. Both leaders see themselves as outsiders in their own political systems, determined to change the status quo against opposition from both sides of the aisle and a hostile media.