French President Emmanuel Macron, who turned 48 on Sunday, had a workout session with French soldiers deployed in the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, American Vice President JD Vance joined a training session with US Marine Corps special forces soldiers.
Macron did push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups in a fitness session in Abu Dhabi, led by influencer Tibo InShape, a representative of bodybuilding on YouTube, as reported by Le Figaro.
The French President, wearing a white t-shirt and shorts from the French Navy, seemed to enthusiastically participate in the exercise.
He asked the group to do "a series of commando push-ups," an exercise approved by the YouTuber.
Emmanuel Macron, apart from this sports demonstration, attended a dinner - prepared by chefs from the Élysée Palace - together with the approximately 800 French soldiers deployed in the UAE.
French President traditionally celebrates the end of the year with troops deployed abroad.
The United Arab Emirates were chosen this year because "the region crystallizes a series of crises," according to the Élysée Palace.
JD Vance, hit by a "train"
US Vice President JD Vance completed a 90-minute physical training session with Navy SEALs at the naval base in Coronado, California.
After the workout, Vance admitted feeling like he had been "hit by a freight train." He wrote on X that the SEALs boys were gentle with him, yet the training was brutal.
"We are incredibly grateful to our fighters who keep us safe and adhere to the highest standards," he wrote.
JD Vance is a veteran of the US Marine Corps who served in the Iraq war. He enlisted in 2003 and was deployed to Iraq in 2005, where he worked in public relations, as noted by Fox News.
The Vice President previously stated that his time in uniform influenced his opinions on national security, the costs of war, and the responsibility leaders have when sending troops into dangerous areas.
Vance's post aligns with the broader message of Trump administration officials emphasizing physical readiness within the armed forces.
Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth emphasized that American military personnel must be "fit, not fat," even up to the general level. He frequently highlighted physical fitness in public speeches and participated in workouts with soldiers during visits to military units worldwide.
Navy SEALs are among the most important special operations forces of the US military, known for their strenuous physical standards, and their missions encompass a wide range of operations on the ground, from counterterrorism to maritime operations.
T.D.