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In France, Trump and Macron Strive to Put Awkward Start Behind Them In France, Trump and Macron Strive to Put Awkward Start Behind Them
(about 1 hour later)
PARIS — They were handshake rivals before President Trump said the United States would withdraw from the Paris climate accord, and his relationship with President Emmanuel Macron of France didn’t seem to get any better after that awkward beginning.PARIS — They were handshake rivals before President Trump said the United States would withdraw from the Paris climate accord, and his relationship with President Emmanuel Macron of France didn’t seem to get any better after that awkward beginning.
But Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron appear to have put their strange and tense initial relationship behind them, in the service of a working partnership and the love of a parade.But Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron appear to have put their strange and tense initial relationship behind them, in the service of a working partnership and the love of a parade.
Mr. Trump arrived in Paris just after 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, beginning his second European trip in two weeks. The visit was set in motion by a call Mr. Macron had made to discuss Syria, in which he invited Mr. Trump to Bastille Day celebrations on July 14. The president and the first lady, Melania Trump, landed at Paris Orly Airport on Air Force One to the reception of a 10-car motorcade.Mr. Trump arrived in Paris just after 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, beginning his second European trip in two weeks. The visit was set in motion by a call Mr. Macron had made to discuss Syria, in which he invited Mr. Trump to Bastille Day celebrations on July 14. The president and the first lady, Melania Trump, landed at Paris Orly Airport on Air Force One to the reception of a 10-car motorcade.
Mr. Trump loves the trappings of the presidency, whether in the United States or in another country. That includes occupying the most prestigious seats at the Bastille Day ceremony, a pomp-filled parade steeped in military tradition and hardware.Mr. Trump loves the trappings of the presidency, whether in the United States or in another country. That includes occupying the most prestigious seats at the Bastille Day ceremony, a pomp-filled parade steeped in military tradition and hardware.
Mr. Trump, for his own inaugural parade, had expressed a desire to include tanks and fighter jets. That wish was not granted, but Mr. Trump remains transfixed by displays of military power.Mr. Trump, for his own inaugural parade, had expressed a desire to include tanks and fighter jets. That wish was not granted, but Mr. Trump remains transfixed by displays of military power.
He arrives in Europe once again leaving behind a trail of questions related to Russian meddling in the 2016 election, flying to the more welcoming arms of a foreign leader with whom his bond is still fragile.He arrives in Europe once again leaving behind a trail of questions related to Russian meddling in the 2016 election, flying to the more welcoming arms of a foreign leader with whom his bond is still fragile.
Mr. Macron and Mr. Trump have had an unusual relationship, characterized in public primarily by a few forceful, awkward handshakes, particularly their first, which Mr. Macron made clear was an effort to show the American president that he could not be bullied.Mr. Macron and Mr. Trump have had an unusual relationship, characterized in public primarily by a few forceful, awkward handshakes, particularly their first, which Mr. Macron made clear was an effort to show the American president that he could not be bullied.
So Mr. Trump’s decision to accept the invitation startled some of his aides.So Mr. Trump’s decision to accept the invitation startled some of his aides.
For the embattled American president, trips overseas — the visit to France will be his third abroad in two months — have been a surprising pleasure, a reprieve from days filled with cable news coverage of the Russia investigation and swirling questions of whether his campaign aides worked in concert with the foreign power.For the embattled American president, trips overseas — the visit to France will be his third abroad in two months — have been a surprising pleasure, a reprieve from days filled with cable news coverage of the Russia investigation and swirling questions of whether his campaign aides worked in concert with the foreign power.
For Mr. Macron, who took office in May, the visit is a chance to establish himself, if only by default, as Mr. Trump’s first point of contact in Western Europe, at a time when Britain is distracted by its plans to leave the European Union and Germany is focused on national elections in the fall.For Mr. Macron, who took office in May, the visit is a chance to establish himself, if only by default, as Mr. Trump’s first point of contact in Western Europe, at a time when Britain is distracted by its plans to leave the European Union and Germany is focused on national elections in the fall.
It is an unlikely partnership, given Mr. Trump’s stated admiration for Marine Le Pen, the far-right populist whom Mr. Macron defeated in May, and the leaders’ radically different world views. Mr. Macron is a pro-European technocrat who admires Silicon Valley, and Mr. Trump an America-first nationalist who is skeptical of multilateral institutions like the European Union.It is an unlikely partnership, given Mr. Trump’s stated admiration for Marine Le Pen, the far-right populist whom Mr. Macron defeated in May, and the leaders’ radically different world views. Mr. Macron is a pro-European technocrat who admires Silicon Valley, and Mr. Trump an America-first nationalist who is skeptical of multilateral institutions like the European Union.
Mr. Trump’s visit to Paris began with an airport arrival ceremony. He then attended a meeting with troops at the American ambassador’s residence while Mrs. Trump toured the Necker children’s hospital.Mr. Trump’s visit to Paris began with an airport arrival ceremony. He then attended a meeting with troops at the American ambassador’s residence while Mrs. Trump toured the Necker children’s hospital.
“I always say how important it is to have, you know, teachers in children’s lives. It’s the most important,” Mrs. Trump said. “They see them every day and spend so much time. It’s very important in the child’s life.”“I always say how important it is to have, you know, teachers in children’s lives. It’s the most important,” Mrs. Trump said. “They see them every day and spend so much time. It’s very important in the child’s life.”
“You look very good. Very strong,” Mrs. Trump told a 14-year-old girl in a wheelchair. “One day you will be walking and running.”“You look very good. Very strong,” Mrs. Trump told a 14-year-old girl in a wheelchair. “One day you will be walking and running.”
At the United States ambassador’s residence, Mr. Trump joined a lunch that was also attended by Mike Pompeo, the C.I.A. director; Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, the national security adviser; and Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The president also addressed military personnel and their families, before departing for the Hôtel National des Invalides, a sprawling patchwork of museums that includes the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte.At the United States ambassador’s residence, Mr. Trump joined a lunch that was also attended by Mike Pompeo, the C.I.A. director; Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, the national security adviser; and Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The president also addressed military personnel and their families, before departing for the Hôtel National des Invalides, a sprawling patchwork of museums that includes the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte.
As the Trumps and the Macrons surveyed Napoleon’s tomb, the French president playfully tapped his wife on her rear end. They all moved along with the tour, and soon Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Macron departed for the Cathedral Notre Dame.
Mr. and Mrs. Trump were feted with a welcome ceremony that included more than two-dozen horses carrying men in uniforms. Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron strolled through the expansive courtyard, a soldier carrying a sword behind them. At one point, Mr. Macron put his right hand on Mr. Trump’s back as he used his left hand to point to a columned facade.Mr. and Mrs. Trump were feted with a welcome ceremony that included more than two-dozen horses carrying men in uniforms. Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron strolled through the expansive courtyard, a soldier carrying a sword behind them. At one point, Mr. Macron put his right hand on Mr. Trump’s back as he used his left hand to point to a columned facade.
Later, they were scheduled to have a closed-door meeting at the Élysée, the presidential palace, followed by a joint news conference. The men will cap the day with a dinner at Le Jules Verne, the elite, blue-lobster-serving restaurant ensconced in the Eiffel Tower.Later, they were scheduled to have a closed-door meeting at the Élysée, the presidential palace, followed by a joint news conference. The men will cap the day with a dinner at Le Jules Verne, the elite, blue-lobster-serving restaurant ensconced in the Eiffel Tower.
That meal is something of a surprise, considering Mr. Trump’s fondness for ketchup-doused steak and cheeseburgers rather than gourmet foods.That meal is something of a surprise, considering Mr. Trump’s fondness for ketchup-doused steak and cheeseburgers rather than gourmet foods.
Mr. Trump has been assured a premium spot at the parade on Friday, before he returns to the United States midday.Mr. Trump has been assured a premium spot at the parade on Friday, before he returns to the United States midday.