Arriving for state visit, Emmanuel Macron highlights differences on climate, trade and Iran

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President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and their wives arrived at George Washington’s home for dinner Monday evening. Macron is in the U.S. on a state visit, the first one of Trump’s administration. (April 23)
AP

WASHINGTON — French President Emmanuel Macron touted the solid friendship he has with President Trump at a formal state arrival ceremony Tuesday, but then hinted at the issues dividing the two countries: the Iran nuclear deal, the environment and trade.

“It is together that we shall build a new form of prosperity for all people, which means innovation, free and fair trade, and the protection of our middle classes,” Macron said. “It is together that we will be able to act effectively for our planet.”

Macron’s welcoming remarks were notably more specific than Trump’s, which focused on the long 214-year friendship between the two countries — and his personal friendship with Macron, who has emerged as Trump’s most trusted European ally over the past year.

“The wonderful friendship we have developed over the past year is a testimony to the historic friendship between our two nations,” Trump said. 

Trump and Macron met for a protocol-laden pomp of a formal state arrival ceremony on the south lawn of the White House Tuesday, as Trump welcomed his French counterpart for the first state visit of the Trump presidency. It’s the second one-on-one summit between the two leaders, following Trump’s visit to Paris for Bastille Day ceremonies last year.

The national anthems of “La Marseillaise” and the “Star Spangled Banner,” a review of troops, and speeches lauding the 241-year relationship between the two countries. 

Macron began the three-day visit Monday with a less formal dinner at President George Washington’s estate at Mount Vernon. The two will have meetings Tuesday, followed by a joint news conference and state dinner, followed by Macron’s speech to a joint session of Congress Wednesday.

Despite the close relationship the two leaders have cultivated, Macron’s visit has also underscored deep policy differences between Paris and Washington. Chief among those is the Iran nuclear agreement, which Trump has referred to as “the worst deal ever negotiated.”  

Trump must decide next month whether to restore economic sanctions on Iran, effectively withdrawing from the multi-nation deal. Macron and other European leaders have lobbied heavily for the U.S. to remain in the pact, and have questioned what President Trump is offering as an alternative. 

Ahead of a meeting with Macron in the Oval Office, Trump continued to criticize the agreement as “insane” and “ridiculous” because it did not deal with ballistic missiles or Iran’s involvement in Yemen and Syria. Trump told reporters he would discuss with Macron whether or not to preserve the agreement.

We made this terrible deal but we’re going to discuss it,” Trump said.

Trade also features prominently on Macron’s agenda. The French president has openly criticized Trump’s protectionist moves in recent weeks and wants Washington to exempt European nations from U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs aimed mainly at China. 

In a Fox News interview Sunday, Macron warned Trump not to levy tariffs on European steel and aluminum. “You cannot make a trade war with your ally,” he said. 

 

 

 

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