Former U.S. President Donald Trump is making headlines again — this time for what he said about France and World War II. While talking to American troops in Qatar, Trump suggested that the U.S. didn’t get enough credit for winning the war. He made some bold comments, and not everyone agrees with how he sees it.
Trump Says U.S. Deserves More Credit Than France
So here’s what happened: Trump started off by saying something like, “We love France, right?” but then quickly added that the U.S. probably did more to win the war than France. He even brought up that time Hitler stood at the Eiffel Tower, kind of as a way to show that things didn’t exactly go well for France back then. It wasn’t a friendly comment, and you could feel the dig.
He also shared a story about French President Emmanuel Macron — someone Trump described as a “good guy.” According to Trump, Macron once told him they were celebrating their victory over the Germans. Trump responded by wondering out loud why the U.S. doesn’t celebrate that victory just as much, considering the role it played.
Trump Says U.S. Won the War — and Deserves to Celebrate It
Trump didn’t hold back. He said clearly that the U.S. “won the war” and that if it weren’t for America, people around the world might’ve been speaking German — or maybe even Japanese. He also mentioned that May 8 should be known as “Victory Day” for America, and November 11 for World War I. Basically, his point was that the U.S. played the biggest part and should be recognized more for it.
His message seemed to be about pride in America’s role in the war, but it came off as ignoring what other countries also sacrificed and achieved.
Historians Disagree With Trump's Version of Events
A lot of historians have already spoken out about what Trump said — and they’re not on the same page as him. One well-known British historian, Richard Overy, called the comments “an extraordinary distortion of history.” He pointed out that the Soviet Union — especially the Red Army — was absolutely crucial in defeating Nazi Germany. According to experts, leaving them out of the conversation changes the whole story.
France’s Role Wasn’t Just About Being Occupied
It’s true — France was taken over by Nazi Germany from 1940 to 1945. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t fight back. The French Resistance and the Free French Forces both played a real part in helping the Allies. Thousands of French fighters took part in battles, risked their lives, and supported Allied operations in many ways.
So, while France’s situation in the war was tough, a lot of people inside the country were still doing everything they could to stand up against the Nazis.
