Donald Trump visits Paris, meets French counterpart Emmanuel Macron
Emmanuel Macron rolled out the red carpet to welcome Donald Trump to Paris for an overseas trip the White House hopes will offer respite from a growing scandal back in the US
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French president Emmanuel Macron rolled out the red carpet to welcome Donald Trump to Paris on Thursday for an overseas trip the White House hopes will offer respite from a growing scandal back in the US. AP
The US president is to be Macron's guest of honour during Bastille Day celebrations on Friday, France's national day, which will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of US involvement in World War I. AP
Accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, the 71-year-old stepped onto French soil for the first time as president, hoping to leave behind weighty allegations that his family and inner circle colluded with Russia to win the 2016 US election. AP
Macron gave Trump a personal tour of Napoleon's tomb at the Invalides military complex in central Paris, before the two men headed for talks. AP
The 39-year-old French leader has had major disagreements with Trump on trade and climate change, after he announced his plan to withdraw from the Paris Agreement last month. But Macron has taken the lead in trying to build bridges. AP
The body language between the two men was warm, with Trump even giving Macron a lift from the museum back to the presidency in his eight-tonne car, known as 'The Beast'. AP
Sources at the White House and in the French presidency insist ties are healthy even after a muscular handshake seen as a battle of wills between the two of them when they first met at a NATO summit in May. AP
Their talks are expected to focus on joint efforts to combat the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, where American and French troops are in action. Reuters
Later on Thursday, the leaders and their wives Brigitte and Melania shared a Michelin-starred dinner at the Eiffel Tower, part of Macron's charm offensive. Trump complimented 64-year-old Brigitte, Macron's former schoolteacher, during their visit to the museum. "You know, you're in such great shape... beautiful," he told her. Reuters