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Reuters
Reuters
Politics
Benjamin Cooper

Australian foreign minister criticises Trump's remark to French first lady

Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, President Trump and First lady Melania Trump pose at the Jules Verne restaurant before a private dinner at the Eiffel Tower. REUTERS/Yves Herman

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Sunday criticised comments by U.S. President Donald Trump on French first lady Brigitte Macron's appearance.

"You're in such good shape," Trump was filmed on Thursday telling her during his first state visit to France.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte pose with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at Les Invalides museum in Paris. REUTERS/Michel Euler/Pool

"I wonder if she could say the same of him?" Bishop told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, when asked whether she would be flattered or offended if the comment were directed at her.

"I'd be taken aback, I think. It's a rather interesting comment to make," she said.

Bishop declined further comment on the Paris remark, but added an unprompted observation on Trump's use of social media, saying she wouldn't "run a commentary on his Twitter account".

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) greets U.S. First Lady Melania Trump while his wife Brigitte Macron (L) welcomes President Donald Trump at Les Invalides museum in Paris. REUTERS/Michel Euler/Pool

The criticism follows an acrimonious January telephone call between Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, when the American hung up after 25 minutes rather than the scheduled hour, according to the Washington Post.

In June, the relationship between the two countries hit the spotlight again, after the release of a leaked tape of Turnbull mocking Trump at an off-the-record media event.

But the two leaders "get along great," Trump had declared in May, following his first-face-to-face meeting with Turnbull.

(Reporting by Benjamin Cooper; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

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