French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting President Donald Trump at a state dinner at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday, marking the United States' 250th anniversary and adding a touch of opulence to an already packed G7 summit agenda.
Macron's office confirmed the invitation, describing Versailles as "a historic symbol of Franco-American friendship," according to The Associated Press. Trump acknowledged the invite on Tuesday, telling reporters he's "a fan of beautiful places" and calling Macron "a very nice man."
"Versailles is not a gold leaf. Versailles is the real deal," Trump said. "I'd like to do it."
The president noted that the dinner would only mean returning home later than usual and wouldn't interfere with his work. "I don't sleep much," he added, promising he'd still be in the Oval Office without losing any time.
The dinner comes as Trump participates in the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, where leaders are discussing Ukraine's defense needs and a tentative U.S.-Iran ceasefire extension aimed at easing tensions over Tehran's nuclear program. Trump is also expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the summit.
But the diplomatic charm offensive has a sharp edge. On Monday, Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs on French wine and champagne if Paris doesn't remove its 3% digital tax on U.S. technology companies. He urged Macron to drop the tax, saying the issue could be resolved if American firms weren't targeted.
So while Trump admires the gold-leaf-free beauty of Versailles, he's also ready to hit France where it hurts—its wine exports. It's a classic Trump move: mix grandeur with hardball, all in the same trip.
