Overview
- French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron hosted President Donald Trump for a private tour, reception and dinner at the Palace of Versailles, an event held after the G7 sessions on Wednesday.
- Macron arranged the Versailles invitation as a deliberate diplomatic tool to ensure Trump stayed to the end of the three‑day summit and to maintain a direct channel for talks on Iran, Ukraine and trade.
- Leaders at the G7 endorsed joint language on support for Ukraine and publicly welcomed a preliminary U.S.–Iran memorandum, outcomes that Macron sought to solidify by keeping the U.S. president engaged.
- The lavish setting prompted sharp domestic criticism in France from hard‑left and other critics who argued the honours were excessive for a president many view as hostile to European interests.
- Versailles has long been a pillar of French soft power, and analysts say Macron’s pageantry can open doors with difficult counterparts but has produced mixed strategic results over time.