No one wants him.. He will leave office soon

US President Donald Trump said that he would impose 200 percent customs duties on French imports of beverages, in a move he described as pushing French President Emmanuel Macron to join the “Peace Council” initiative that aims to help end global conflicts.

When a journalist asked him about Macron’s comment that he would not join the council, Trump replied, “Did he say that? Well, no one wants him because he will leave office very soon.”

Trump added, “I will impose 200 percent customs duties on French drinks. Macron will join the council, but he does not have to.”

A source close to Macron said yesterday, Monday, that France intends, at this stage, to reject the invitation to join the initiative.

Trump originally proposed creating the peace council when he announced last September his plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip. But a call sent to world leaders last week defines a broad role in ending conflicts globally.

According to a draft charter sent by the US administration to about 60 countries and seen by Reuters, it called for members to contribute $1 billion in cash if they wanted their membership to continue for more than three years.

Governments expressed cautious reactions on Sunday to Trump’s call, a plan that diplomats said could harm the work of the United Nations.

Trump also said yesterday, Monday, that he had invited his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to be a member of the peace council.