Trump says he prefers American wine to French wine even though he doesn't drink: 'I just like the way they look'
US president says he has never had a single drink in his life
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has publicly criticised French wine in an attack on Emmanuel Macron, despite being a known teetotaler.
Mr Trump’s tweet came after Paris announced a tax aimed at US technology companies.
“France just put a digital tax on our great American technology companies. If anybody taxes them, it should be their home Country, the USA,” he wrote.
“We will announce a substantial reciprocal action on Macron’s foolishness shortly. I’ve always said American wine is better than French wine!”
Mr Trump, 73, has repeatedly said he has never had a drink over the course of his life – meaning it’s unclear how he could have formed an opinion on the supposed superiority of American wines over their French counterparts.
His abstinence is believed to be linked to the death of his brother Fred Trump Jr, who died aged 43 in 1981 after years of alcohol addiction.
“I’ve never had a drink of alcohol in my life which I’m very happy about and very proud of, but I’ve never had a drink of alcohol in my life,” the president told CNBC in 2012.
In a speech last year, Mr Trump mentioned his brother, telling his audience: “He had a problem with alcohol. And he would tell me, ‘Don’t drink. Don’t drink.’ ... And to this day, I’ve never had a drink.
“And I have no longing for it. I have no interest in it.”
Two weeks ago, the French Senate approved a three per cent levy that will apply to revenue from digital services earned in France by firms with more than €25m ($28m / £22m) in French revenue and €750m ($835m / £674m) worldwide.
Other EU countries including Austria, Britain, Spain and Italy have also announced plans for their own digital taxes.
They say a levy is needed because big, multinational internet companies such as Facebook and Amazon, are currently able to book profits in low-tax countries like Ireland, no matter where the revenue originates.
Political pressure to respond has been growing as local retailers on main streets and online have been disadvantaged.
Additional reporting by agencies
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