Nationalism poses test for transatlantic ties

In his speech commemorating the 100th anniversary of World War I on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that self-interested nationalism marked "a betrayal of patriotism". The reverberations of his words were felt from across the Atlantic Ocean.

Because, as is his wont when he feels he has been slighted in some way, US President Donald Trump fired off a caustic series of early-morning tweets. On Tuesday, his salvo was against Macron, and his proposal that Europeans should defend Europe, as well as the bilateral trade deficit.

Since one of the tweets was remarkably insensitive given the occasion, it seems the earlier claims of camaraderie no longer apply.