Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition

Trumps hosting French president, wife at Mount Vernon

- By Darlene Superville

WASHINGTON — Tending to bonding before business, President Donald Trump and France’s Emmanuel Macron were starting off the French president’s visit Monday with an anything-but-ordinary double date with their wives at George Washington’s house.

The presidents and their spouses were to helicopter together to Mount Vernon, Washington’s historic riverside home, for a private dinner one night before the two leaders sit down for talks on a weighty agenda including security, trade and the Iran nuclear deal.

Macron’s pomp-filled three-day state visit to Washington underscore­s the importance that both sides attach to the relationsh­ip: Macron, who calls Trump often, has emerged as something of a “Trump whisperer” at a time when the American president’s relationsh­ips with other European leaders are more strained. Trump, who attaches great importance to pageantry and ceremony, chose to honor Macron with the first state visit of his administra­tion as he woos the French president.

Macron will be welcomed back to the White House on Tuesday with a traditiona­l arrival ceremony featuring nearly 500 members of the U.S. military and a 21-gun salute. The state visit also offers Macron his first Oval Office sit-down with Trump and a joint White House news conference. There’s also a State Department lunch hosted by Vice President Mike Pence.

The French president’s White House day will be capped Tuesday night with a state dinner, the highest social tribute a president bestows on an ally.

Trump’s wife, Melania Trump, settled on a menu of rack of lamb and nectarine tart, along with entertainm­ent provided by the Washington National Opera.

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