President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have been invited to Paris, France to participate in Bastille Day celebrations on Thursday.
The U.S. president was invited this year as the guest of honor to mark the 100th anniversary of the United States entry into World War I which was a turning point. Russia had dropped out of the conflict due to the Bolshevik Revolution and the Germans were then able to transition one million troops from the Eastern front to the West. Had the U.S. not entered, an allied victory was unlikely.
The trip will consist of only one political meeting with President Emmanuel Macron on Syria and terrorism. The remainder of the trip will have the president visiting the U.S. Embassy, L’Hotel Invalides, The French National War Museum, Napolean’s tomb, participants in the events and observing France’s national day of celebration.
“The nation which is the guest of honor is the United States for this year’s Bastille Day celebration, and the President and First Lady have been invited as guests of honor for that,” a senior administration official told reporters Tuesday. “And so, of course, while there, they’re going to use the opportunity to discuss topics of mutual interest, but that’s really the centerpiece of this visit.”
Reporters did ask if the U.S. pull out from the Paris accord would be discussed to which the administration official said, “The conduct of the bilateral session which is scheduled for something like an hour, an hour and 15 minutes, is based on topics that were coordinated with the French President. It’s entirely possible that President Macron will raise the issue. And if he does, the President has spoken on the issue a number of times and he’ll be ready to engage in that as well.”
Presidents Trump and Macron will deliver remarks at a joint press conference after their bilateral meeting. Watch our Trump’s Schedule page for the exact time.
The president will arrive on Thursday the 13th, one day ahead of Bastille Day events and depart on the 14th after celebrations conclude.
