Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has turned down $20 million in aid from the United Nations that would assist in ending the Amazonian rainforest fires, as well as kickstarting the reforestation process. Bolsonaro says he will accept aid on one condition: French President Emmanuel Macron must apologize to him. 

In light of the news of the Amazon fires, Bolsonaro was bombarded and offended by Macron's comments related to his handling of the situation, and the two have been going back and forth ever since.


Macron's anger increased Monday when a Bolsonaro supporter mocked his wife, Brigitte, in a Facebook post that compared her appearance to Bolsonaro's wife, saying that Macron was jealous. According to NBC News, Bolsonaro commented on the post in Portuguese, saying, "don't humiliate the guy … haha," leading to further insults coming from Macron.

"He said very disrespectful things about my wife. I have great respect for the Brazilian people and can only hope they soon have a president who is up to the job," Macron said to NBC.

The Brazilian government has also been very concerned that foreign aid would come with conditions, which would allow outside nations to control Brazilian behavior and gain access to the resources of the Amazon.

"Look, does anyone help anyone … without something in return? What have they wanted there for so long?" Bolsonaro said, according to NBC.

Macron has downplayed Brazil's concerns, assuring that his intentions are pure and that the Amazon is too important for the world to lose.

"We respect your sovereignty. It's your country," Macron said, according to the Associated Press. "The Amazon forest is a subject for the whole planet. We can help you reforest. We can find the means for your economic development that respects the natural balance. But we cannot allow you to destroy everything."

In addition to France's financial efforts, Britain said it would donate $12 million, and Canada pledged another $11 million as part of a restoration effort formulated during the G-7 Summit.