French President Emmanuel Macron is floating plans to woo President Donald Trump with a rare dinner at one of history’s most ornate palaces.
Macron is already set to indulge the U.S. president at the Alpine spa resort of Evian-les-Bains from June 15 to 17, but two French officials familiar with the matter told Politico that he could take things one step further by appealing to Trump’s well-known royal tastes. The Palace of Versailles, which became the envy of Europe after its construction by King Louis XIV in the late 17th century, rarely serves as a location for a diplomatic reception. Paris may be betting that an exception is well in order to flatter Trump at a time of strained U.S.-European relations.
The dinner will coincide with the final day of the G7 Summit on June 17. Many European leaders are viewing the summit with anxiety over Trump’s unpredictability. A French lawmaker from Macron’s party told the outlet that the summit was something European leaders “just need to get through.”
“We need to avoid a situation like in Canada last year, when Trump left [the G7] early, or a crisis over Greenland,” they said.
Macron has nearly organized the summit around Trump, moving its start date so Trump could attend UFC fights on the White House lawn for his 80th birthday. Despite their ideological differences and recent tensions, the two leaders have been noted for their cordial relationship.
This relationship has faced a low point over the past few months as the two publicly clashed over the war with Iran. Trump has accused France and other NATO allies of failing to come to the U.S.’s aid in the conflict.
MACRON DOUBTS US ABILITY TO OPEN STRAIT OF HORMUZ BY FORCE
Though it’s fallen out of diplomatic use, Versailles has a long history of hosting important diplomatic events after the seat of power moved back to Paris, most notably the proclamation of the German Empire in 1871 and the negotiations to formally conclude World War I.
Versailles’s primary purpose today is to boost France’s tourism industry, serving as one of the country’s foremost attractions.