Trump welcomes Macron to the White House
President Trump welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron for an arrival ceremony ahead of their day of meetings and the formal State Dinner Tuesday evening. A 21-gun salute and review of troops with almost 500 members of the five military branches kicked off the ceremony on the South Lawn. Members of the Trump administration and Cabinet, including Vice President Pence, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Ivanka Trump, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and White House chief of staff John Kelly greeted Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron. The two leaders made brief remarks at the ceremony before their meetings.
Both leaders acknowledged the Bush family in their remarks. "We all send our prayers to the Bush family," after former President George H.W. Bush was hospitalized with an infection just after wife Barbara Bush's funeral. Mr. Trump wished him "a speedy recovery."
The president also extended his sympathies to the people of Canada after the Toronto van attack Monday. "Our hearts are with the grieving families in Canada," Mr. Trump said.
He also thanked Macron for the help of the French in the retaliatory strikes against Syria. "Along with our British friends, the United States and France recently took decisive action and response to the Syrian's regime of chemical weapons," Mr. Trump said. "I want to personally thank President Macron, the French military and the French people for their steadfast partnership. They were absolutely incredible."
Today we meet to affirm this friendship that has flourished for over two centuries, the president said, also saying, "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."
Macron thanked Mr. Trump and also offered his condolences to the Bush family for the death of Barbara Bush, and he, too, condemned the Toronto attack.
"It is together that the United States and France will defeat terrorism," Macron said through a translator. It is together that we will counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, be it in North Korea or in Iran, he added. He also acknowledged their differences on climate change.
"On this issue, we do not always agree as to the solutions but in the end, such is the case in any family, and in any friendship, and it is also where the fate of our children is at stake," Macron said. Mr. Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris climate accord last year.
Mr. Trump and Macron are later expected to hold bilateral meetings and a joint news conference.