<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>French President </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/emmanuel-macron" rel="" target="_blank" title="Emmanuel Macron's"><span>Emmanuel Macron's</span></a><span> increasingly tested relationship with US counterpart </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="_blank" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> has taken another blow as the European leader issued a stern rebuke over the Strait of Hormuz.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Macron also expressed disgust at comments Trump made at a private event mocking Macron's relationship with his wife Brigitte.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump has indicated recently that the US does not consider itself responsible for opening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping passage that Iran has effectively closed off following the recent attacks by Israel and the US.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-3-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/9ae35c37-7ca8-4b1e-ae30-753e5304eff4" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'More to follow': Trump posts video of key Iranian bridge cut in half</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Go to the Strait and just take it, protect it, use it for yourselves," Trump exhorted his NATO allies in his presidential address this week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They must grab it and cherish it. They could do it so easily. We will be helpful, but they should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so depend on."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also previously said "the hard part" had been done, though Iran still has the capacity to strike neighbouring Gulf states and shipping remains bottlenecked and blocked.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-emmanuel-macron-french-president-rebukes-us-over-strait-of-hormuz-comments-about-wife/26ebc402-a740-427e-99aa-5e31f1511229" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-sister-speaks-out-after-fugitive-killed-by-police/feeddbc0-6d8f-42ff-b368-1aaed025ad90" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Dezi Freeman's sister 'ashamed and angry' of police killer's actions</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In response, Macron, who is on a presidential tour boosting relations in eastern Asia, said that using force to open the strait was "unrealistic".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also appeared to rebuke Trump's inconsistencies on Iran, saying, "When we want to be serious, we don't say the opposite of what we said the day before".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump is known to be angry at European allies for not joining the US's attack on Iran, although the US did not discuss the campaign with any of them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/pam-bondi-leaves-us-attorney-general-role-donald-trump-announces/68822fbf-1eb5-4adc-856a-f92caf2c493e" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Pam Bondi out as US attorney general after controversial tenure</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some nations, including Spain and Italy, have refused to allow their air bases to be used by US aircraft involved in the war.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>France has sent troops to the Middle East, but as a defensive gesture to help protect allies there.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Brigitte Macron dragged into fray</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While in South Korea, Macron was also asked about comments Trump had reportedly made during a speech at a private event yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I called up France, Macron, whose wife treats him extremely badly, (he is) still recovering from the right to the jaw," Trump said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was likely referring to a video from last year which appeared to show Brigitte Macron shoving her husband in the face while disembarking a plane.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>President Macron later said the couple had been joking.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Asked about Trump's new comments, Macron said they "weren't elegant, and they weren't up to par" but otherwise dismissed them as unworthy of attention.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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