Brazil is rejecting a pledge by G7 nations to provide $22 million to help combat the raging Amazon wildfires. On Monday, Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro accused French President Emmanuel Macron and other G7 world leaders of treating Brazil like a “colony or no-man’s land.” Bolsonaro’s chief of staff suggested the funds could be used for reforesting in Europe instead. He also said Macron had no place intervening after he failed to prevent a destructive fire earlier this year that burned down a large part of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Many have called out the G7 for not putting nearly enough resources toward the mounting disaster, with some noting that $1 billion was raised within just two days of the Notre-Dame Cathedral fire.
The dispute between Presidents Bolsonaro and Macron took a personal turn after Bolsonaro commented on an image posted by a supporter on Facebook, suggesting Macron was jealous of Bolsonaro because his wife is 30 years younger than French first lady Brigitte Macron. Bolsonaro’s comment expressed amusement and read, “Do not embarrass the guy.” President Macron called the comment “incredibly disrespectful.”