Interestingly enough , Mr . Cameron '' s remarks almost coincided with a visit to Washington by Mr . Sarkozy , who spoke at the French - American Foundation on September 12 about " the friendship between our two peoples . " He talked in glowing terms about the heroes of September 11 , about America '' s success as an immigration country and as a world leader and its leadership in the arts and sciences . And he spoke of the virulent anti - American sentiment in the French media and among " a portion of the French elites " as arising from envy .