PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron said he had an “excellent” talk with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump Wednesday on coordinating responses to the spread of coronavirus.
“Excellent discussion with @realDonaldTrump,” Macron tweeted. “To better deal with Covid-19, we are ready to coordinate our scientific, health and economic response within the framework of the US G7 Presidency.”
The two leaders compared notes on the situation in their respective countries, and measures they’re putting in place to address the spread, according to an Elysée official.
Macron suggested it might be a good thing for the U.S. to tackle head-on the issue of coronavirus at June’s G7 meeting in the U.S. This should focus on three areas: scientific research (coordinating among researchers, so that solutions are found as quickly as possible), putting in place best practice guidelines, and finding common ground in monetary and budgetary policies among G7 countries to respond to the economic consequences of coronavirus.
Trump seemed to like the idea, according to the Elysée official.
The White House confirmed in a readout of the call that the two emphasized the need for their countries to work together, and that they discussed the upcoming G7 summit.
The U.S. president has faced criticism at home that his administration bungled its response and failed to keep the American people clued in about the potential severity of the outbreak in the U.S., which has confirmed 80 cases and nine deaths so far.
France has so far confirmed 212 cases and four deaths.
Macron also spoke to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Wednesday about coronavirus. Johnson explained his country’s approach to containing, delaying the spread of and researching the virus, and agreed with Macron to work together on an international response, a Downing Street spokesperson said.