PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Donald Trump to Paris on Saturday with a full a dose of presidential pomp and so they held an impromptu assembly with Ukraine’s Volodymr Zelenskyy on a day that combined pageantry with consideration to urgent world issues.
Trump, the as soon as and future American president, stated when he arrived on the Elysee Palace for a face-to-face assembly with Macron — quickly expanded to incorporate Zelenskyy — that the 2 could be discussing a world that’s gone “a bit of loopy.”
Trump’s go to to France, a part of a world a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral 5 years after a devastating hearth, got here as Macron and different European leaders try to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to take care of assist for Ukraine in its protection towards Russia’s invasion. Macron’s workplace stated that may be mentioned in addition to the wars within the Center East.
As Trump arrived on the official residence of the French president, Macron went out of his method to venture a picture of shut ties, posing for a number of handshakes interspersed with loads of back-patting. Trump stated it was “an ideal honor” and talked in regards to the “nice relationship” they’ve had. A grand purple carpet was rolled in the identical approach the French welcome sitting American presidents.
Earlier than they went inside, Trump stated, “It actually looks like the world is, going a bit of loopy proper now. And we’ll be speaking about that.”
Zelenskyy arrived on the palace about 45 minutes after Trump.
Macron had deliberate to fulfill with Zelenskyy, and the French president’s workplace stated the three-way assembly was proposed by Macron and organized shortly earlier than Trump’s arrival. Trump has pledged to finish the battle in Ukraine swiftly however has not specified how, elevating issues in Kyiv about what phrases could also be laid out for any future negotiations.
Macron, who has had an up-and-down relationship with Trump, has made a degree of cultivating a relationship because the Republican defeated Democrat Kamala Harris final month. However Macron’s workplace nonetheless performed down the importance of the invitation, saying different politicians not now in workplace had been invited as properly.
Trump was invited as president-elect of a “pleasant nation,” Macron’s workplace stated, including, “That is under no circumstances distinctive, we’ve finished it earlier than.”
The purple carpet remedy, nevertheless, was an indication of how keen each Macron and different European leaders are to win Trump’s favor and placate him even earlier than he takes workplace.
Trump is understood to enjoy pomp and circumstance. One in every of his first journeys as president his first time period was to Paris, the place Macron made him the the visitor of honor at Bastille Day occasions. Trump later stated he wished to duplicate the grand navy parade again in america.
Democratic President Joe Biden was invited as properly however is not going to attend. White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre cited a scheduling battle and stated first woman Jill Biden will symbolize america.
The assembly with the French president is happening earlier than the Notre Dame occasion, as will the get-together with Prince William, who’s additionally scheduled to fulfill with Jill Biden, in response to the British royal palace.
In an effort to construct belief with the incoming U.S. administration, Zelenskyy’s prime aide Andriy Yermak met key members of Trump’s group on a two-day journey earlier this week. A senior Ukrainian official, who spoke on situation of anonymity as he was not approved to talk publicly, described the conferences as productive, however declined to reveal particulars.
Relations between France and the U.S. throughout Trump’s first time period started warmly sufficient however grew increasingly strained over time.
Macron was the guest of honor at Trump’s first state dinner, and Trump traveled to France a number of instances. However the relationship suffered after Macron criticized Trump for questioning the necessity for NATO and elevating doubts about America’s dedication to the mutual protection pact.
Through the 2024 presidential marketing campaign, Trump usually mocked Macron, imitating his accent and threatening to impose steep tariffs on wine and champagne bottles shipped to the U.S. if France tried to tax American corporations.
However Macron was one of many first world leaders to congratulate Trump final month after the election.
When he accepted the invitation to journey to Paris, Trump stated Macron had finished “a beautiful job making certain that Notre Dame has been restored to its full stage of glory, and much more so. It is going to be a really special occasion for all!” A fireplace in 2019 nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark.
Greater than 20 French authorities safety brokers have been serving to guarantee Trump’s security alongside the Secret Service, in response to French nationwide police. A particular French police van offered anti-drone safety for Trump’s convoy.
Safety was tighter than typical exterior the U.S. Embassy and different websites round Paris for the Notre Dame reopening, the place dozens of worldwide VIPs have been anticipated.
Trump was president in 2019 when the fireplace engulfed Notre Dame, collapsing its spire and threatening to destroy one of many world’s biggest architectural treasures, identified for its mesmerizing stained glass.
“So horrible to look at the huge hearth at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris,” he wrote on what was then Twitter, providing his recommendation to the town.
“Maybe flying water tankers could possibly be used to place it out. Should act rapidly!” he wrote.
French officers appeared to respond shortly after, noting that “All means” have been getting used to extinguish the flames, “apart from water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, may result in the collapse of all the construction of the cathedral.”
Final weekend, Trump announced that he intends to appoint real estate developer Charles Kushner, the daddy of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to function ambassador to France. Predecessors in that prestigious function embody Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.
Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Colin from New York. Related Press writers Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.
