Following an official visit by French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday aimed at touting the two countries’ cooperation on global security issues and easing past trade tensions, President Biden said France was America’s “first friend” at the country’s founding and remains one of its closest allies more than two centuries later.
“United we stand, divided we fall,” Macron said as he toasted Biden at a state dinner. “We are allies and we will remain allies.”
Biden and Macron attend the ceremony Commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day On Thursday, Russia and Ukraine met, followed by a separate meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris the following day. Throughout their meetings, the two leaders stressed the urgent need to support Kiev’s fight against Russian aggression.
Notable guests at Saturday’s state dinner included actress Salma Hayek, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former tennis player John McEnroe and his wife, US singer Patti Smith. Singer Pharrell Williams performed for attendees.
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Pharrell Williams and his wife Helen Lasichanh arrived for dinner, where he will perform for the guests.
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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, the French-Italian model and musician Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, attended the dinner.
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Actress Salma Hayek and her husband, billionaire François-Henri Pinault, chief executive officer of Kering SA, attended the state dinner.
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Former tennis player John McEnroe and his wife, singer Patti Smith, arrive at a state dinner in France.
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The state visit began Saturday with a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe that included a wreath-laying at the Tomb of France’s Unknown Soldier and a military parade down the Champs-Elysées before continuing to the Elysée Palace, where the two leaders held an official meeting and issued official statements. Macron and his wife Brigitte hosted a state dinner for Biden and his wife Gilles at the Elysée Palace.
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Following Macron’s toast, Trump said the United States and France were “not only steadfast in our partnership, we are also uncompromising,” adding, “That’s the way democracies work.”
While Biden and Macron put the Ukraine war at the top of their agendas on Saturday, the centerpiece of the weekend was the strength of the two countries’ longstanding alliance, forged at Normandy 80 years ago and with roots much deeper than that.
Biden, who described himself as a scholar of French history, said he was “deeply honored” to visit, noting that America’s ties with France date back to the War of Independence.
“France was our first friend,” Biden said, “and it remains one of our best friends.”
Macron praised Biden not only as the leader of a world power but also as someone who brought “transparency and loyalty to Europe as a partner that loves and respects it.”
The two leaders also Rescue on Saturday by Israeli forces Regarding the incident in which four hostages were held by Hamas, Biden said, “We will not stop our efforts until all the hostages are home and a ceasefire is achieved,” while Macron criticized the Israeli government for not making enough efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Macron said he supports a ceasefire proposal pushed by Biden that would allow a surge of humanitarian aid to the region and the release of more hostages. The United States has said it is waiting for Hamas’ formal response to the proposed agreement.
