Trump, Macron to tackle Iran, trade
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — United States President Donald Trump yesterday welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House to kick off a three-day state visit expected to be dominated by US-European differences on the Iran nuclear deal and trade.
It is Trump’s first hosting of a state visit since he took power in January 2017. The pair got a sense of their two countries’ shared history during an evening meal last night at Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, the first US president and Revolutionary War commander whose alliance with France was critical to victory over the British.
The major work between them will be done today during White House meetings and a joint news conference.
Tomorrow, Macron will address a Joint Session of Congress, making the anniversary of the day that French Gen. Charles de Gaulle addressed the Joint Session of Congress on April 25, 1960.
Trump and Macron began their improbable friendship a year ago in Belgium with a jawclenching handshake. While other European leaders have kept a certain distance from Trump, Macron has worked hard to remain close to the US president and the two leaders speak frequently by phone.
Macron is on something of a rescue mission for the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump has vowed to scrap unless European allies strengthen it by midMay.
The deal reached between Iran, the US and five other world powers put curbs on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
Macron said on Fox News last Sunday it would be better to protect the Iran deal instead of get rid of it, saying there is no “Plan B” to take its place.
“Is this agreement perfect and this JCPOA a perfect thing for our relationship with Iran? No. But for nuclear – what do you have? As a better option? I don’t see it,” he said.
Macron also wants to persuade Trump to exempt European nations from steel tariffs that are part of the US president’s plan to reduce chronic trade deficits with countries around the world, primarily China.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss Syria, less than two weeks after the US, France and the United Kingdom launched air strikes in Syria in retaliation to a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed dozens in Douma, Syria.