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Former President Donald Trump recently stirred up some controversy when he spoke about France’s celebrations marking 80 years since the Allied victory in World War II. Speaking to U.S. troops at a base in Qatar, Trump suggested that the United States deserved much more credit for winning the war.
Trump’s Take on France and the War
Trump started off by saying, “We love France, right? But I think we did a bit more to win the war than France did, don’t you agree?” He even mentioned Hitler’s infamous speech at the Eiffel Tower, hinting it wasn’t the best moment for the French during the war.
He also recalled a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, whom he called a “good guy.” Trump joked that Macron told him, “Donald, we are celebrating our victory over the Germans.” Trump’s response was a bit blunt: he wondered why the U.S. wasn’t celebrating the victory as much as other countries.
Emphasizing America’s Victory
Trump pointed out that while Russia, France, and many others were marking the victory, the U.S. seemed to be left out of the celebration. “We won the war,” he said firmly. “Without us, everyone might be speaking German — maybe even some Japanese.”
In fact, Trump has even called May 8 “Victory Day” for the U.S., celebrating the end of World War II, and November 11 as Victory Day for World War I. He’s been vocal about the idea that America played the biggest role in these wars.
Historians Push Back
Not everyone agrees with Trump’s version of history. Many historians have pushed back, saying he’s overlooking the huge role played by the Soviet Union and other Allied countries. British historian Richard Overy called Trump’s comments “an extraordinary distortion of history,” pointing out that the Red Army was key in defeating Nazi Germany.
What About France’s Role?
It’s true that France was occupied by Nazi Germany from 1940 until 1945. But many French people didn’t just stand by — the Free French Forces and the French Resistance fought bravely alongside the Allies during those years.
