Overview
- President Donald Trump allegedly lobbed a tablet across the Resolute Desk after a technical glitch stopped him from speaking on a multi‑leader video call during Emmanuel Macron’s February 2025 White House visit.
- The account comes from a Wall Street Journal exposé that other outlets have summarized and said it relied on officials who were present for the meeting rather than a White House confirmation.
- The Journal reported that nearly 30 European leaders held a secret emergency meeting in Brussels in January 2025 to discuss reducing dependence on the United States.
- European officials responded by practicing what the report calls “flattery diplomacy,” which included praise from Dutch leader Mark Rutte and deliberate changes in wording and messaging when communicating with Trump.
- Reporters and analysts say the episode illustrates wider strain in transatlantic ties and helps explain continued high‑level efforts to manage the relationship, including meetings such as the June 2026 G7 talking session at Versailles.