“Emmanuel, nice to see you. This is so beautiful,” the US president told Macron as they met at the Hotel des Invalides where Napoleon Bonaparte and other French war heroes are buried.
Patting Trump on the back several times, the French president smiled as they began a tour of the grand 17th century military complex.
Macron and Trump were scheduled to hold talks lasting an hour and a half before dining with their wives at a restaurant on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower.
After a bumpy start, both have incentives to improve relations — Macron hoping to elevate France’s role in global affairs, and Trump, seemingly isolated among world leaders, needing a friend overseas.
Trump comes to France beset by allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US election, with emails released on Tuesday suggesting his eldest son welcomed an offer of Russian help against his father’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
Weeks after Macron hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Palace of Versailles, Trump will bask in the trappings of the Bastille Day military parade today and commemorations of the entry 100 years ago of US troops into World War I.
For the 39-year-old Macron, France’s youngest leader since Napoleon two centuries ago, the visit is a chance to use soft diplomacy to win Trump’s confidence and set about influencing US foreign policy, which European leaders say lacks direction.
Macron views it as counter-productive to isolate the United States on the world stage, and progress may be made on joint approaches to counter-terrorism and security.
But any breakthrough on trickier issues such as Trump’s rejection of the Paris climate change deal and his “America First” trade policy are unlikely.
“What Emmanuel Macron wants to do is bring Trump back into the circle so that the United States, which remains the world’s number one power, is not excluded,” French government spokesman Christophe Castaner told BFM TV.
Today’s celebrations come a year after a Tunisian man loyal to Islamic State ploughed a truck through revellers on a seafront promenade in Nice, killing more than 80.
During the US election campaign, Trump said a wave of militant attacks showed “France is no longer France”, urging a tougher stance on immigration and militancy.
The Elysee official said the intended symbolism of dinner at the Eiffel Tower was that “Paris is still Paris”.
The presidents will discuss the civil war in Syria, where Islamic State is defending its last major urban stronghold of Raqqa, and counter-terrorism.
“Macron has said before that military action is not enough, we have to plan for development and stabilisation,” an Elysee official said.
Beyond the Middle East, Macron will press Trump for more support in financing a new West African military force to battle Islamists in the Sahel, where France wants to wind down its troop presence, the official said.
In bringing Trump to Paris, Macron has stolen a march on Britain’s embattled Prime Minister Theresa May.
London’s offer of a state visit for Trump met fierce criticism and warnings that he would be greeted by mass protests. An Elabe poll showed that 59 % of French people approved of Macron’s decision to invite Trump.
Macron shows new chemistry with Trump
After a white-knuckle handshake in May that President Emmanuel Macron described as a “moment of truth” for Donald Trump, the Frenchman yesterday welcomed the US president to France with smiles and a gentle hand on the shoulder.If the Brussels handshake, that was followed a day later by Macron’s bodyswerve away from Trump at a lineup of leaders, defined the awkward start to their relationship, yesterday’s welcome was designed to show a newfound chemistry.
The two men would appear to have little in common.
Trump, 71, is an anti-globalist elected on a pledge to “make America great again” who is unpredictable on foreign policy.
Macron, 39, is an ardent European integrationist more than three decades younger. During Trump’s visit, they will, nonetheless, seek common ground on diplomatic and military endeavours.
Both Trump and Macron have a political interest in building rapport.
After greeting Macron, Trump turned to a white-clad Brigitte Macron, appearing to go for a handshake before holding her shoulders and offering a kiss on the cheeks.
