US President Donald Trump has attacked his French counterpart in a series of tweets just two days after returning from commemorations to mark 100 years since the end of World War I in Paris.

Key points: Mr Trump lashed out over Mr Macron's suggestion Europe should build up militaries

Mr Trump lashed out over Mr Macron's suggestion Europe should build up militaries He also complained about tariffs on US wine and attacked Mr Macron's popularity

He also complained about tariffs on US wine and attacked Mr Macron's popularity The complaints struck a nerve in France on the anniversary of the Paris terror attacks

In five posts sent on the same day France marked the anniversary of the 2015 terrorist attacks that killed 130 people in Paris, Mr Trump blasted the key US ally over its record in both world wars, its wine industry and Emmanuel Macron's approval ratings.

He also defended his decision to cancel a trip to a US military cemetery after rainy weather grounded his helicopter.

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The tweets came after Mr Macron used a speech at the World War I commemorations to issue a warning about the dangers of nationalism.

In the speech to more than 60 heads of state and government on Armistice Day, Mr Macron seemingly directed a message at Mr Trump as he warned of the dangers of nationalism once again threatening world peace, saying "the traces of this war never went away".

"The old demons are rising again, ready to wreak chaos and death," he warned.

"History sometimes threatens to take its sinister course again."

Sorry, this video has expired Emmanuel Macron warns against dangerous nationalism in the United States and Europe.

Mr Macron's comments were widely viewed as a rebuke of Mr Trump, who has embraced the "nationalist" label despite its negative connotations.

The President's continued complaints about France struck a nerve with some in the European nation, especially since his latest broadsides came on the third anniversary of the Paris terror attacks.

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France's ambassador to the US, Gerard Araud, also challenged Mr Trump's statements alleging Mr Macron wanted to "build an army against the US, China and Russia".

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A top adviser to Mr Macron said the French position on European defence has been "clarified".

Mr Macron explained the European army issue to Mr Trump during their meeting, stressing that France was not making a choice between a European defence mechanism and multilateral organisations such as NATO, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Nearly 1.4 million French soldiers died fighting the Germans during World War I.

Germany invaded France early in World War II, with the German army entering Paris on June 14, 1940.

A large part of France was then occupied by the Germans until 1944 when it was liberated after the Allied landings in Normandy and Provence.

Reuters/AP