French President Emmanuel Macron joked Wednesday about his interactions with President Trump during a press conference where they shook hands, embraced each other, and kissed each other’s cheeks.
“In 1778, the French philosopher Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin met in Paris … they embraced by hugging one another in their arms and kissing each other’s cheeks — it can remind you of something,” Macron said in a speech before a joint meeting before Congress.
During meetings between the two world leaders on Tuesday, Macron and Trump shared several “physical” moments of either hand shaking, hugging, or a cheek kiss during a joint press conference.
Trump even wiped what he said was a piece of dandruff from Macron’s shoulder so he would look “perfect” for his appearance in front of the press in the Oval Office.
Macron said that the U.S. and France are connected through the same ideals of liberty, tolerance, and equal rights, and that the two nations’ histories are intertwined.
