United States President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, presented a united front at the White House, pledging to sort out their economic differences, demonstrate unity against Russia, and reaffirmed continued support for Ukraine.
Biden hosted Marcon for the first state visit of his presidency to celebrate the longtime friendship and the renewed commitment to trans-Atlantic alliances.
Biden, 80, and Macron, 44, have had many meetings at international summits but this was the longest time they have spent together.
Russia-Ukraine war
Ukraine remained the most pressing issue for the leaders, who vowed to continue robust support and to back Kyiv during the tough winter months. The two leaders reaffirmed “continued support for Ukraine’s defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, including the provision of political, security, humanitarian, and economic assistance to Ukraine” which includes the provision of significant resources through the winter and stepping up the delivery of air defense systems and equipment needed to repair Ukraine’s energy grid.
The two presidents condemned Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. In a joint statement, the two also resolved to “hold Russia to account for widely documented atrocities and war crimes, committed both by its regular armed forces and by its proxies.”
Macron, for his part, said he would continue to talk to Putin to “try to prevent escalation and to get some very concrete results” such as the safety of nuclear plants. Biden indicated he would be willing to talk with Putin if the Russian leader demonstrated that he seriously wanted to end the invasion. Biden conditioned such talks on support from NATO allies.
Economic issues
U.S. and French leaders also explored ways to ease some economic tensions. Biden pledged to Macron to make changes to U.S. legislation passed by the U.S. Congress this year that European nations fear will harm their economies. Macron said that he and other European leaders are opposed to incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act that favor American-made climate technology, including electric vehicles.
Biden aimed at boosting U.S. renewable energy and the semiconductor industry. He also acknowledged “glitches” in the legislation and said “there’s tweaks we can make” to satisfy allies. Macron said it was important for the United States and its European allies to “re-synchronize” their approaches.
Gifts exchanged
Macron and his wife, Brigitte, came to the U.S. with carefully tailored gifts – a vinyl record and CD of the original soundtrack from the 1966 film “Un Homme et une Femme,” which the Bidens went to see on their first date. Biden and first lady Jill Biden presented to the Macrons a mirror framed by fallen wood from the White House grounds and made by an American furniture maker.
Biden’s lavish state dinner for Macron
The U.S. president and first lady Jill Biden also hosted a star-studded White House state dinner in a South Lawn arrival ceremony that featured a military honor guard, a red-jacketed colonial band and national anthems.
The grand state dinner was the first of the U.S. president hosted for a foreign leader.
More than 300 additional guests including business magnates, movie stars, TV personalities, musical artists, dozens of state and federal officials, military leaders, attended the dinner.
Jill Biden said her red, white and blue design for the dinner was inspired by shared colors and values of liberty, democracy, equality between France and the United States.
On the menu were Butter-poached Maine lobster, beef with shallot marmalade and American cheeses. Dessert was orange chiffon cake with roasted pears and crème fraiche ice cream.
“France is one of our strongest partners and most capable allies and Emmanuel has also become a friend,” Biden said in a joint news conference. “We address all challenges together and occasionally we have some slight differences but never in a fundamental way thus far.”
Macron last paid a visit to the U.S. in 2018 during former President Trump’s administration.