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Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron dine at the Palace of Versailles
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ Switzerland /Elections & Politics

Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron dine at the Palace of Versailles

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron dined at the Palace of Versailles following the G7 summit in Evian.
  • The dinner was framed as a celebration of 250 years of American independence and a symbol of French-US friendship.
  • The event included a private tour of Versailles, a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and discussions on the Iran agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron concluded the G7 summit with a lavish dinner at the Palace of Versailles. Hosted by Macron, the event was presented as a grand finale to Trump's visit, highlighting a period of apparent accommodation from the American president.

What better than Versailles to dazzle Donald Trump?

โ€” Article textSetting the scene for the choice of venue for the dinner.

Arriving from Evian, Trump was warmly welcomed by Macron and his wife Brigitte at the historic chรขteau. Versailles, chosen for its significance as a "high place of friendship" with the United States and celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence, also appealed to Trump's known appreciation for opulence. Macron arranged a private tour, including the Hall of Mirrors and a gallery dedicated to the American War of Independence, followed by a concert in the royal chapel.

high place of friendship

โ€” ElysรฉeThe official reason given by the French presidency for choosing Versailles.

During their time at Versailles, the two leaders engaged in a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, initiated by Macron. Trump also confirmed to the press his agreement with Iran to end the war in the Middle East, a detail mentioned in the article. The dinner itself, held in the sumptuous Galerie basse, featured a menu of asparagus with lobster and caviar, truffle poultry with potatoes, and a chocolate tart. Approximately thirty guests, including representatives from both governments and prominent business leaders like Bernard Arnault of LVMH, attended the meal.

du lourd

โ€” Donald TrumpTrump's admission regarding the grandeur of the Palace of Versailles.

Macron appeared pleased with the perceived rapport established with Trump during the visit, stating he had "always had confidence" in the unpredictable U.S. president. However, the lavish dinner drew criticism from some political opponents in France, who accused Macron of excessive deference to the Republican billionaire. The event, which concluded around 1 a.m., saw Trump depart after bidding farewell to the Macrons.

always had confidence

โ€” Emmanuel MacronMacron's statement about his trust in Donald Trump.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.