Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro said no thanks to the G7 leaders' offer of $20 million to help contain the infernos that have been raging for weeks in the Amazon rainforest. In fact, some members of Bolsonaro's cabinet suggested that French President Emmanuel Macron use the money to address some issues in his own house instead.
"Thanks, but maybe those resources are more relevant to reforest Europe," said Bolsonaro's chief of staff Onyx Lorenzoni, before making a callous note of how the Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire earlier this year, according to Politico Europe.
"Macron cannot even avoid a predictable fire in a church that is part of the world's heritage, and he wants to give us lessons for our country?" Lorenzoni asked.
The Notre Dame cathedral caught fire on April 15, destroying the roof and toppling the iconic spire. The cause is still largely unknown.
Bolsonaro also accused Macron and the other G7 members of treating Brazil like a "colony" and demanded an apology from Macron. If he does, "then we can speak."
The Brazilian leader has previously blamed his leftist critics for starting the Amazon fires to make him look bad because it seemed like the fires had begun "in strategic locations," according to a Washington Post report.
Yet, Bolsonaro did pledge to send thousands of troops to the area to try and contain the fires.
President Trump weighed in on Twitter on Tuesday and said he supports the Brazilian president.
I have gotten to know President @jairbolsonaro well in our dealings with Brazil. He is working very hard on the Amazon fires and in all respects doing a great job for the people of Brazil - Not easy. He and his country have the full and complete support of the USA!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2019
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