This was hilarious.
President Donald Trump drew laughs — and attention online — after briefly slipping into a French-style accent while recounting a recent phone call with Emmanuel Macron during a White House event on Friday.
The moment occurred during a rural healthcare roundtable at the White House, where Trump highlighted new investments directed toward small-town and rural medical systems under what he described as the “big, beautiful bill,” signed into law in July 2025.
While discussing his administration’s push to lower prescription drug costs for American families, Trump turned to a conversation he said he recently had with Macron about the stark price differences between the United States and Europe.
“I said, ‘Emmanuel,’” Trump recalled, before imitating Macron’s response with a playful accent. “‘Yes, Donald, Donald. Thank you so much for calling.’”
Trump told the audience he quickly made it clear the call would not be pleasant.
“I said, ‘You’re not going to like this call,’” the president added.
WATCH:
Trump impersonates France's Macron: Emmanuel said to me: “Donalddd, you have a deal. I would like to increase my prescription drug prices by 200% or whatever. Whatever you want, Donald, please don’t tell the population, I beg you.” Every country said the same thing. pic.twitter.com/bNBF0DsEHY
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) January 12, 2026
Trump Pushes ‘Most-Favored-Nation’ Drug Pricing
Trump referenced the executive order he signed in May creating a “most-favored-nation” drug pricing policy. The policy is designed to prevent Americans from paying more for medications than the lowest prices charged by other developed nations.
According to Trump, European countries — including France — have long benefited from government-set drug prices that allow pharmaceutical companies to shift higher costs onto U.S. consumers.
“They pay far less, and Americans get stuck with the bill,” Trump said.
Trump explained that he told Macron European nations would need to raise their drug prices if the United States was going to achieve fairness.
“I told him, ‘You’re going to have to get your drug prices up,’” Trump said, again mimicking Macron’s response as a firm refusal.
The president said he backed up his argument with data showing Americans paying many times more — not percentages, but multiples — for the same medications.
Tariffs Used as Leverage
Trump also said he made it clear he was willing to use tariffs as leverage if European leaders refused to cooperate.
“If you don’t do it,” Trump said he warned Macron, “I’ll put a 25 percent tariff on everything coming into the United States — wine, champagne, all of it.”
According to Trump, Macron eventually expressed a willingness to work with the administration, and the discussion marked the beginning of similar conversations with other countries.
Trump Says He Likes Macron
Trump noted that this was not the first time he has jokingly used an accent when speaking about Macron and emphasized that there was no hostility behind the remarks.
“I like him a lot,” Trump said. “He’s a very nice person. I hope he’s listening, because he doesn’t believe that, but I do.”
As of Friday afternoon, the French president’s office had not issued a public response.
