Emmanuel Macron is pulling out all the stops to keep Donald Trump in France during the G7 summit. The French president's statement on Monday acknowledged that he had invited his US counterpart to dinner on Wednesday evening at the Palace of Versailles to keep him there until the end of the G7 summit currently underway in Evian-les-Bains.
“Why did we want this dinner? It’s not a gala dinner or anything like that. No, it’s a dinner to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, because France played a role in it,” the French president said in an interview with TF1 before the opening of the G7 summit, which runs through Wednesday.
“It will be our moment to celebrate this friendship” between the two countries, he added, noting that he himself would not be traveling to the US for the July 4 Independence Day celebrations.
Macron also noted that Trump had left “in the middle” of last year’s G7 summit in Canada. This time, “he needs to stay until the end to work out the agreements, because we also have important discussions on digital technology and artificial intelligence on Wednesday,” he said, painting the dinner in Versailles as a way to keep him in France.
The choice of the Palace of Versailles was made to appeal to Trump, who is a fan of lavish settings but who is not particularly fond of large multilateral gatherings. He will be welcomed there by his French counterpart a few hours after the G7 summit concludes.
Macron has already hosted three heads of state at Versailles since the beginning of his first terms in 2017: Russian President Vladimir Putin, then-future Emperor of Japan, Naruhito, and King Charles III of the United Kingdom. Here’s a look back at these three receptions in pictures.
Vladimir Putin, received on May 29, 2017:
French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin arrive at the Palace of Versailles, as they meet for talks on May 29, 2017. © François Mori, AFP 
Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin in front of the Republican Guard at the Palace of Versailles. © Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt, AFP 
Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles. © François Mori, AFP 
Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron walk through the Gallery of Battles at the Palace of Versailles. © Stéphane de Sakutin, AFP 
The Russian and French presidents during their joint press conference at the Palace of Versailles. © Christophe Archambault, AFP Naruhito, received on September 12, 2018:
Emmanuel Macron welcomed Naruhito to the Palace of Versailles on September 12, 2018. © Éliot Blondet, AFP 
Naruhito, between Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron. © Ludovic Marin, AFP 
Emmanuel Macron, Naruhito, and their teams during a meeting at the Palace of Versailles. © Ludovic Marin, AFP 
Emmanuel Macron and Naruhito attend a Japanese performance at the Royal Opera House at the Palace of Versailles. © Ludovic Marin, AFP 
Naruhito and Emmanuel Macron toast before their state dinner at the Palace of Versailles. © Ludovic Marin, AFP King Charles III, received on September 20, 2023:
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at the Palace of Versailles on September 20, 2023. © Daniel Leal, AFP 
The French presidential couple and the British royal couple before their state dinner at the Palace of Versailles. © Ludovic Marin, AFP 
King Charles III and President Emmanuel Macron take their seats before their state dinner at the Palace of Versailles. © Benoît Tessier, AFP 
President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech before the state dinner with King Charles III at the Palace of Versailles. © Daniel Leal, AFP 
Brigitte Macron, Charles III, and Emmanuel Macron raise their glasses during their state dinner at the Palace of Versailles. © Daniel Leal, AFP 
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