His request was not unreasonable but he can't expect that people in the USA are going to understand him in French.
It is reasonable for him to expect that the press will have translators at major public events, but they aren't going to have translators with them everywhere.
If he wants to vacation in the US he should learn enough English to be able to ask to be left alone, or bring someone with him that can do it for him.
I'm glad the press had the professional courtesy to leave him alone after his request was made clear to them.
He should try spanish instead...
I agree that it’s unreasonable for him (or anyone) to expect us to understand their foreign language when they are visiting (or living) here, but I doubt that that was his expectation. I would bet a fair amount of money that he speaks more than a smattering of English. I would be curious to know if I’m right. Anybody know?
When I go to a foreign country, I try to learn at least enough of the local language to get by. But if I were harrassed to the extent that Sarkozy was, I would definitely “lose it” in English. I think that most people would lose their temper in their native language, regardless of how fluent they are in another.
Just my $.02.