President Donald Trump has reignited controversy by mocking France’s celebrations of the 80th anniversary of World War II victory, while issuing a sharp warning that China is quietly waging a global campaign to rewrite history and weaken America’s influence.
Speaking to U.S. troops at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Trump questioned France’s self-congratulation. “We love France, right? But I think we did a little more to win the war than France did, do we agree?” he said, drawing laughter. Trump then recounted a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, mocking France’s claim of “victory over the Germans” with his signature sarcasm.
However, Trump quickly turned serious. “The real threat today is not about who gets credit for the past, but who controls the narrative of the future. And right now, that’s China,” Trump said.
Trump accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of exploiting Western divisions over historical memory. “While France celebrates, while Europe debates statues and flags, China is systematically rewriting history in textbooks, online, even in Hollywood scripts. They want the next generation to believe China—not America—saved the world.”
According to Trump, Beijing’s propaganda extends beyond domestic control. “TikTok algorithms, fake academic papers, AI-generated content — all pushing the message that America’s victory was marginal, that China’s ‘century of humiliation’ justifies their global rise. If we stay silent, we let them replace the truth with their lies.”
Trump cited China’s efforts to distort World War II history in the United Nations and international media. “In every diplomatic forum, they claim they were the key to defeating Japan, minimizing America’s Pacific sacrifices. They even pressure Hollywood to cut scenes showing American heroes, all to boost their image.”
The President’s remarks come amid growing concerns over China's global information warfare. Experts warn that China’s “discourse power” strategy seeks to undermine U.S. leadership by reshaping historical narratives to glorify China’s role and downplay American achievements.
“Let’s be clear: without America, Europe would be speaking German, Asia would be dominated by Imperial Japan, and the world would be a very dark place. We won that war. And now we have to win the information war too,” Trump said.
The President called for a “Victory Truth Initiative” — a bipartisan effort to preserve and promote accurate accounts of World War II and other key moments of American history. “We must defend the truth as fiercely as we defend our borders. China is not just stealing our technology; they’re stealing our history.”
Critics accuse Trump of inflaming tensions with allies, but supporters argue his blunt approach is necessary. “It’s not about offending France. It’s about waking up America. If we let China dictate what children learn about the past, they’ll dictate our future too,” said a senior White House advisor.
As U.S.-China tensions escalate over trade, Taiwan, and global influence, Trump’s remarks underscore a broader geopolitical battle. “We defeated fascism once. Today, we face a new authoritarian challenge from Beijing. The fight is different, but the stakes are the same — freedom versus control,” Trump concluded.
The French government has yet to officially respond.
