France State Dinner

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted their first state dinner on April 24, welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron.

The dinner was held in the State Dining Room with roughly 130 guests. Melania personally oversaw the planning of the elaborate affair.

Among the attendees were Apple CEO Tim Cook, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Chief Justice John Roberts, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, managing director of the IMF Christine Lagarde, and French businessman Bernard Arnault.

The primary agenda item for the French president was the forthcoming fate of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actions (JCPOA), better known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, leading up to Trump’s May 12 decision whether or not to remain a party to the deal.

Macron lobbied Trump to not exit the deal without a replacement framework. He also opened the door to a new and more comprehensive deal to run alongside the existing deal, stressing the JCPOA as the first pillar of a broader framework.

“I always said we should not tear apart the JCPOA and have nothing else. I think this would not be a good solution,” Macron said. “No matter the decision now that President Trump will take, I would like us to work as from now on a new deal with four pillars, including what is already covered by the JCPOA.”

Address to Congress: Macron addressed the U.S. Congress the following day. At times, his speech ran in opposition to Trump. For example, he urged lawmakers to reject insular nationalism, to unite against the threat of climate change, and to support the Iran Nuclear Deal. He also stressed the importance of news media as a pivotal reinforcing pillar of democracy.