Hollande asks Trump not to disparage Paris

Paris Feb 25 (IANS) French President Francois Hollande on Saturday asked his US counterpart Donald Trump not to disparage Paris following the latter s remarks about the French capital s loss of appeal due to terrorist attacks.

Hollande was referencing comments Trump made during a speech delivered on Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbour Maryland Efe news reported.

It is never good to show the slightest mistrust towards a friendly country Hollande said.

That is not what I do toward a friendly country and I ask the American President not to do it to France he added.

Trump had claimed that a friend told him that Paris is no longer Paris seemingly because of the recent terror attacks that took place in the city.

When asked about Trump s criticism Hollande countered that he could also question the US safety when it comes to gun control and mass shootings.

I don t want to make a comparison but there are no weapons circulating here there are no people who take weapons to shoot into the crowd Hollande said.

He added that Trump had told him in a telephone conversation that he loved France.

So I imagine that that is what he thinks. If it is what he thinks I expect he will express that Hollande added.

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