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'Could she say the same of him?': Bishop throws shade on Trump's Macron praise

Bishop says she would be 'taken aback' if Trump's comments to Brigitte Macron were aimed at her

US President Donald Trump has attracted attention for his comments on the "good physical shape" of French first lady Brigitte Macron, but how would an Australian politician react if the same was said to them?

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told Insiders she thinks she would be "taken aback" if the US President made the same comments to her and questioned whether he would elicit the same compliment.

"It's a rather interesting comment to make," Ms Bishop said.

"I wonder if she could say the same of him?"

During his first official visit to France the US President praised the French first lady for being "in such great shape" as they were saying their farewells after a tour.

Mr Trump turned to her husband, French President Emmanuel Macron, and said "she's in such good physical shape" before turning back to the first lady and saying, "beautiful".

Ms Bishop refused to comment further on Mr Trump's compliments in France and said she was focussed on the relationship between the US and Australia.

"I'm not going to run a commentary on President Trump's conversations with the French President about the French President's wife," she said.

"Likewise, I don't run commentary on his Twitter account."

Mr Trump has since returned to the United States after a whirlwind two-day visit to France, his first since becoming President.

At the end of Bastille Day celebrations, his final engagement before leaving Paris, he raised eyebrows for an unusually long handshake with Mr Macron.

The two clasped hands for a handshake and did not let go for 30 seconds, even holding onto each other as they walked and approached their wives.

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