President Biden said France was America’s “first friend” at its founding and is one of its closest allies more than two centuries later as he was honored with a state visit Saturday by French President Emmanuel Macron aimed at showing off their partnership on global security issues and easing past trade tensions.
“United we stand, divided we fall,” Macron said in toasting Mr. Biden at a state dinner. “Allied we are and allied we will stay.”
Mr. Biden and Macron attended ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Thursday and met separately the following day with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris. The leaders both used those engagements used to underscore the urgent need to support Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s invasion.
Notable guests for Saturday’s state dinner include actor Salma Hayek, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former tennis player John McEnroe, and his wife U.S. singer Patty Smyth. Singer Pharrell Williams performed for the attendees.
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Pharrell Williams and his wife Helen Lasichanh arrive at the dinner. He is scheduled to perform for the guests.
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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife French-Italian model and musician Carla Bruni-Sarkozy attended the dinner.
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Actor Salma Hayek, and her husband Francois-Henri Pinault, billionaire and chief executive officer of Kering SA, attended the state dinner.
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Former tennis player John McEnroe and his wife singer Patty Smyth arrive at the French state dinner.
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The state visit began Saturday with a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe, including a wreath-laying at France’s tomb of the unknown soldier, and a military parade along the Champs-Élysées leading to the Élysée Palace, where the two held official meetings and delivered public statements. Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, hosted state dinner at the palace for Biden and his wife, Jill.
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The American president followed Macron’s toast by saying the U.S. and France have been “unyielding as well as unwavering in our partnership,” adding, “That’s what democracies do.”
Mr. Biden and Macron put the war in Ukraine at the top of Saturday’s agenda, but it was the strength of the countries’ long alliance, fortified at Normandy 80 years ago but with roots far deeper, that was the centerpiece of the weekend.
Calling himself a student of French history, Mr. Biden said the visit was a “great honor” and he noted that America’s ties to France date to the Revolutionary War.
“France was our first friend,” Mr. Biden said. “It remains one of our best friends.”
Macron praised Mr. Biden as not just the leader of a world power but also for bringing the “clarity and loyalty of a partner that loves and respects the Europeans.”
The two leaders also celebrated the rescue Saturday by Israeli forces of four hostages taken by Hamas. “We won’t stop working until all the hostages come home and a cease-fire is reached,” Biden said as Macron called out the Israeli government for not doing more to get humanitarian assistance into Gaza.
Macron said he supported a Biden-promoted cease-fire proposal that would allow a surge of humanitarian assistance into the territory and allow for the release of more hostages. The U.S. has said it is awaiting Hamas’ formal response to the potential deal.
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