French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday criticized US President Donald Trump for what he described as inconsistent positions on the Iranian conflict, saying, “You cannot contradict yourself every day,” while rejecting any military attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as “unrealistic.”Macron said during a visit to South Korea that the proposals “sometimes expressed by the United States” to secure the strategic waterway militarily are not applicable.
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“It is unrealistic because it would take an enormous amount of time and would expose anyone crossing the strait to coastal threats,” he added, noting the risks posed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and missile capabilities. He added that any solution requires a “ceasefire and the resumption of negotiations” with Iran, according to Agence France-Presse. The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route for oil, remains severely disrupted amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.Macron also directly criticized Trump’s messaging on the war. “You have to be serious,” he said. “When you want to be serious, you don’t say every day the opposite of what you said the day before. And maybe you shouldn’t talk every day.” His statements come amid growing disagreements between Western allies.
The UK has distanced itself from the conflict, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer stating that “Iran is not our war”, while France has ruled out involvement.
Trump’s changing position on the Iran war
Since the start of US-led military operations, Trump has made mixed statements on strategy, allies and escalation, drawing scrutiny both domestically and internationally.
Allies versus going solo
Trump alternated between calling for international support and emphasizing US self-sufficiency.
He urged NATO and other countries that depend on Middle Eastern oil to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, saying they “must come to our aid.” However, he added around the same time: “We don’t need anyone… We have the strongest army.”
NATO criticism
Even as he sought support, Trump criticized NATO, calling it a “paper tiger” and stating that a potential US exit from the alliance was now “beyond reconsideration,” raising further questions about policy coherence.
Regarding military escalation
Trump threatened to “destroy” Iran’s energy infrastructure if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. However, he quickly backtracked on the timeline, first delaying the measure by five days and then extending it further, citing ongoing negotiations.
On the aims of war
His messaging has also shifted toward broader goals, from pushing for aggressive intervention and control of the Strait of Hormuz, to suggesting that the conflict could end without securing the waterway, creating uncertainty about U.S. strategic priorities.Mixed messages about escalation: Trump alternated between calls for aggressive action and signals of restraint, including signaling openness to ending the conflict without reopening the strait.
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Global and local reactions
Trump’s statements sparked mixed reactions globally, with many countries, including European countries, China and South Korea, showing reluctance to join US efforts in the region.In the United States, analysts and political figures have raised concerns about policy consistency. A Pew Research poll found that 61% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Iranian conflict.The president’s approach has also drawn criticism on social media, where the term “TACO” (“Trump always chickens out”) has been circulating in reference to perceived reversals in political positions.(With inputs from agencies)
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