Trump is welcomed to Versailles by Macron ahead of dinner at the Palace

(17 Jun 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Versailles, France - 17 June 2026 1. French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron arriving AP VIA AGENCY POOL (AFP) Versailles, France - 17 June 2026 2. Various of U.S. President Donald Trump's motorcade arriving at Palace of Versailles ASSOCIATED PRESS Versailles, France - 17 June 2026 3. Various of Macron welcoming Trump at Palace of Versailles, posing for photographs STORYLINE: U.S. President Donald Trump has arrived at Versailles ahead of dinner with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. Earlier on Wednesday, he left French spa town Évian-les-Bains after the conclusion of the summit of G7 nations. On Wednesday night, the French president will throw open the Palace of Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to U.S. president for a private reception, show and dinner marking America’s 250th birthday. At a turbulent moment for the trans-Atlantic alliance, it could help Macron keep a personal channel open as the two navigate differences over Iran, Ukraine and tariffs. It has already kept Trump from leaving a Group of Seven summit early, as he did last year in Canada. “I’m a fan of beautiful places,” he told reporters, saying he had planned to leave earlier until “a very nice man” invited him to dinner. The welcome also served a practical purpose. In an interview earlier this week with France’s TF1 television, Macron said Trump “needs to stay until the end” to help complete the summit’s agreements. “Versailles is a diplomatic tool and an instrument of influence,” Macron said Wednesday, likening diplomacy to soccer. “Whether I’m playing at home or away, my goal is to score goals. And when I host other teams, I try to give them a nice welcome.” =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...