French President Emmanuel Macron touched down in Washington yesterday. After arriving to Blair House, the presidential guest quarters, he and his wife, Brigitte, strolled to the Lincoln Memorial, surrounded by security agents and journalists.
Later, the couple had a private dinner?with the Trumps at Mount Vernon. On the menu: lemon-ricotta agnolotti with citrus butter, ballotine of Dover sole, and chocolate soufflé.
But today, the two leaders get to business.
There will be a a military welcome on the South Lawn around 9 a.m. ET. Afterward, Trump and Macron will meet and hold a joint press conference. In the wake of the US-French strikes in Syria, questions remain about Trump’s willingness to maintain a military presence in Syria as Macron has urged his US counterpart to do. Trump’s harsh new new trade approach has led to fears of a trade war. And a fast-approaching deadline on the Iran deal also looms large.
Tweeting on Monday afternoon, Macron previewed his message to Trump.
“The United States and France share a long history, we have led revolutions together to defend freedom and democracy,” he wrote. “It is our turn to live up to the example set by our history.”