French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed US President Joe Biden in Paris for a state visit. The visit began 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 leaders held official meetings and delivered public statements. Macron and Biden discussed their efforts to bring about a cease-fire to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with a focus on preventing regional escalation and calming tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. They also welcomed the rescue of four hostages held by Hamas. Biden's support for Israel has faced criticism from his left-leaning political base due to the high number of Palestinian deaths in the conflict with Hamas. The leaders did not mention their disagreements about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Macron and Biden share a warm relationship and are aligned in their support for Ukraine and opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin. They discussed trade issues, including the US Inflation Reduction Act, and Macron expressed the desire to resynchronize the economies of the US and Europe. The state visit aimed to reaffirm the alliance between the US and France and address global challenges.
During his visit to France, President Biden paid his respects at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, a cemetery that former President Donald Trump had skipped during his presidency. Biden placed a wreath at the cemetery chapel, honoring over 2,200 U.S. soldiers who fought in World War I. This visit served as a rebuke to Trump, highlighting the contrast between Biden's embrace of alliances, democracy, and support for Ukraine, and Trump's skepticism and insults towards fallen soldiers. Biden's visit to the cemetery aimed to underscore the importance of alliances and paying tribute to war heroes. Trump, in response, criticized Biden's performance overseas and claimed that the U.S. is in major decline under his leadership. Biden's trip also included a state visit in Paris, where he emphasized the importance of alliances and democracy. The trip was seen as an opportunity for Biden to appeal to traditional conservatives and gain support among older voters. Overall, Biden's trip to France served as a reminder of the differences in approach and values between him and Trump. [e94934a7] [0371fc61] [13786cc0]