All posts tagged "France"

A top aide to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had planned a weeklong European trip packed with luxury stops, until reporters started asking questions.

Curt Beaulieu, a senior policy and tax adviser to the speaker, had been authorized to lead a staff delegation to Italy and France in late October, NBC News reported Wednesday, citing a draft itinerary emailed to U.S. Embassy personnel in Rome and Paris. Johnson's office told the outlet the trip had been called off after NBC inquired about the plans.

The proposed schedule had the group stopping at a Ferrari factory near Bologna and a Barilla pasta and cheese processor in Parma before visiting luxury goods companies in Milan or Florence. From there, the delegation would head to France for excursions to the Champagne region and a meeting at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development....

President Donald Trump erupted at France on Tuesday morning over what he perceived to be a major snub, and vowed that the United States would “remember” its actions going forward.

Trump claimed that France refused to allow U.S. military cargo planes en route to Israel to use French airspace, a claim that as of Tuesday morning has yet to be reported on by major news outlets. Nevertheless, Trump condemned France for their purported actions, and attacked the European nation for its refusal to join the United States in its war against Iran.

“The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!”...

Donald Trump's ambassador to France and Monaco has had his access to French government officials revoked after failing to commit to the role.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed Charles Kushner — the father of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner — would no longer have direct access to French politicians after no-showing a summons order from the government. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs confirmed the ban on Kushner earlier on Monday.

"In light of this apparent failure to grasp the basic requirements of the ambassadorial mission and the honor of representing one's country, [Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot] has requested that he no longer be allowed direct access to members of the French government."...

Sifan Hassan completed her mission impossible with a grueling women’s marathon win on the sun-baked streets of Paris on Sunday, as Tom Cruise is rumored to close the Olympic Games with a Hollywood ending.

With China and the United States grappling for dominance at the top of the medals table, fourteen golds were on offer on the last day of what is widely seen as a successful Olympics.

Dutchwoman Hassan had taken on what many considered to be a crazy gamble, competing in the 5,000m, the 10,000m and the marathon — the last two events just two days apart....

The United States held off France 67-66 to win an unprecedented eighth successive women’s Olympic basketball gold on Sunday and extend their run of victories at the tournament to 61 games.

A’ja Wilson scored a game-high 21 points for the Americans who won the title for the 10th time overall, surviving a buzzer-beating shot from France’s Gabby Williams.

The hosts needed a three to force overtime in Paris but Williams’ foot was on the three-point line as she let go of the ball, so her shot counted for just two points in a dramatic finale. ...

France's left-wing New Popular Front is expected to finish ahead of the nation's far-right party in French parliamentary elections, and it's causing some excitement in the United States.

CNN reported Sunday that left-wing group "was projected to win between 172 and 192 seats in the National Assembly, making it the largest party, but falling short of the 289 seats required to form an absolute majority." This would mean a finish even in front of President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Ensemble alliance. Marine Le Pen’s far-right party was reportedly leading in initial estimates, so the change was a surprise to some onlookers.

But not such a shock to historian and authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat. ...