French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Donald Trump to Paris on Saturday with a grand reception, complete with red carpet, trumpets, and members of the Republican Guard in full uniform. Despite not taking office until January 2025, Trump was treated as America’s representative on the world stage, with Macron and European leaders seeking to win his favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine.
Trump spent about 90 minutes at the Elysée Palace, meeting first with Macron before being joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for about 35 minutes. The two leaders discussed the war in Ukraine, with Macron trying to persuade Trump to maintain support for the country’s defense against Russia’s invasion.
Macron’s office said the war, along with conflicts in the Middle East, would be discussed, and Trump hinted that the world was “going a little crazy” during their meeting. Trump and Zelenskyy also attended the grand reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral, where Trump was greeted by Macron and his wife, Brigitte. Trump was given prime seating at the service, beating out First Lady Jill Biden, who sat on the other side of Brigitte Macron.
The trip was seen as an attempt by Macron to build a relationship with Trump and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine. Trump has pledged to end the war in Ukraine swiftly, but has not specified how, raising concerns in Kyiv about what terms may be laid out for any future negotiations.
The meeting was seen as a significant development in relations between France and the U.S., which had become increasingly strained during Trump’s first term. Macron’s office played down the significance of the invitation, saying other politicians not now in office had been invited as well. However, Macron has made a point of cultivating his bond with Trump, and the two men have a history of friendship, dating back to when Trump was first president in 2019.
