Trump agrees Bastille Day visit to Paris after Macron extends hand

DONALD TRUMP will visit Paris on Bastille Day on July 14, taking up a late invitation from his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

Mr Macron extended the offer during a telephone call on Tuesday and the White House accepted 24 hours later. Mr Trump’s decision came as there was still no confirmed date for a state visit to the UK following an invitation by Prime Minister Theresa May when she met him in Washington in January.

The US and French presidents last met in Brussels in May when their encounter included an unusually extended handshake.

A month ago Mr Macron publicly clashed with Mr Trump over his withdrawal of the US from the Paris climate accord. Mr Macron said the US president had “committed an error for the interests of his country, his people and a mistake for the future of our planet”.

Both men will be in Germany on July 7 and 8 for the G20 summit.

Mr Trump’s visit to France will also commemorate the US entry into the First World War 100 years ago. The July 14 events will see thousands of men and women from France’s army, navy and air force march down the Champs-élysées. This year the US military will march with French forces.

A White House spokesman said: “President Trump looks forward to reaffirming America’s strong ties of friendship with France, to celebrating this important day with the French people, and to commemorating the 100th anniversary of America’s entry into World War One.”

He added: “The two leaders will further build on the strong counterterrorism co-operation and economic partnership between the two countries.”