US President Donald Trump welcomed on Thursday French President Emmanuel Macron in the Embassy of the United States at Brussels for a first meeting during which he praised his “great victory.”
First meeting between Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron gathered at the Embassy of the United States in Brussels.
‘A great honor’
After the traditional handshake, Donald Trump has long praised his host, over 30 years his junior. “It is a great honor for me to be with the new president of France, who led an incredible campaign and won a great victory”, launched the Republican president, who is proud to have pushed the traditional codes of politics by going to surprise to the White House “Everybody speaks worldwide. Bravo. Good game !“, He added, stressing that the topics of discussion are many and that the fight against terrorism would appear prominently.
“C’est un grand honneur pour moi que de me retrouver aux côtés du Président nouvellement élu. Le monde entier parle de lui” #Trump à #Macron pic.twitter.com/IcAn1QXXdb
— LCI (@LCI) May 25, 2017
“I am also very happy for me to be with President Trump”, said Emmanuel Macron, citing, among the wide range of topics on the agenda: the fight against terrorism and “climate and energy topics”. “I am very happy to collectively change a lot”, he added.
Trump silent on leaks
The US president did not respond to a question from a journalist on leaks in the American media about the details of the Manchester bombing investigation that undermine cooperation between intelligence services.
If he had not explicitly taken a position in the French election campaign, some of the rumors about Donald Trump had fueled the idea that he would have seen a good eye to the victory of the extreme right candidate Marine Le Pen .
A few days before the election, he predicted that the attack on the Champs-Elysées in Paris and claimed by the jihadist Islamic State organization (EI) would have major implications for and “would probably help,” Marine Le Pen as ‘she’ is the strongest on the borders “ .
Exchanges “direct” and “concise”
On the menu, a full program, between French and American leaders: the NATO summit and the G7 will open on Thursday in Italy, regional crises (Syria, Ukraine, North Korea …), the economy and respect, always uncertain, with the new US administration is the Paris agreement on climate.
Given the relative brevity of the meeting held in the dining room at the Japanese-inspired decor of the US Embassy, the Elysee Palace said Wednesday was preparing to exchange “very direct” and “concise” between the two leaders .
Around the table French side included Sylvie Goulard, Minister of the Army, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Admiral Bernard Rogel, chief of personal staff of the President and Philippe Etienne, diplomatic adviser to Mr Macron.
Emmanuel Macron, elected on May 8th and President on May 14th, made with the meeting and summit of the Atlantic Alliance that will follow, his first steps on the international diplomatic stage. He will fly on Friday to the G7 in Taormina (Italy). Then he will receive Monday Russian President Vladimir Poutine in the very royal setting of Versailles, near Paris.
