FOREIGN POLICY/FRANCE/HOLIDAY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump watched U.S. and French soldiers march together through the Paris sunshine on Friday [7-14-17] in a double celebration marking 100 years since the United States entered World War One and France’s annual Bastille Day holiday.
Also featuring a bi-national fly-past of American F16 and French Rafale jets symbolizing military cooperation in the Middle East and elsewhere, the occasion followed a day of talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, a first ladies’ tour of Paris, and a dinner for the four at a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower.
“Great evening with President @EmmanuelMacron & Mrs. Macron. Went to Eiffel Tower for dinner. Relationship with France stronger than ever,” Trump wrote in a tweet.
The ceremonies brought to an end a visit Macron needs as a boost to France’s standing on the world stage – one which could also help a U.S. leader left short of international friends by his stance on free trade and climate change.
Trump, also dogged at home by an investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, appeared on Thursday to leave open the door for more talks on the Paris accord which he pulled the United States out of earlier this year.”
-Sudip Kar-Guta and Matthias Blamont, “Bastille Day march-past closes Trump’s Paris visit,” Reuters, July 13, 2017 07:09pm