President Trump welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, to the White House Tuesday morning and said the decision to host the French leader for America’s first state visit was no accident.
“The wonderful friendship we have developed over the last year is a testament to the enduring friendship that binds our two nations. It is truly fitting that we are holding our first official state visit with the leader of America’s oldest ally, the proud nation of France,” Trump said in remarks at the White House Tuesday. “Melania and I were honored to visit your majestic country last summer. Now we’re thrilled to host you and your wife here in America.”
Trump listed notable moments in the two countries’ 241-year friendship, including the partnership in responding to the Syrian regime’s most recent chemical attack on innocent civilians.
“Along with our friends we took decisive action in response to the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons. I want to personally thank President Macron, the French military, and the French people for their steadfast partnership. They were absolutely incredible,” Trump said.
Macron, who hosted the Trumps in France last July, equally expressed appreciation for the relationship.
“It is together that the United States and France will defeat terrorism. France and America are both confronted to it in various forms on our respective soils … or in Africa. It is together that we’ll counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction be it in North Korea or Iran,” Macron said in follow-up remarks.
Both presidents expressed condolences to Canada after a rental van driver drove down nearly two dozen people in Toronto and killed 10 people.
Macron concluded his remarks with the presentation of an oak tree to commemorate exactly 100 years since the end of World War I. The tree was planted on the South Lawn of the White House grounds.
