The presidential couple of France hosted an official reception for the president of the United States, Donald Trump, at the historic Palace of Versailles, immediately following the G7 summit held in Évian. Emmanuel Macron greeted the American president as he stepped out of his limousine, with the two leaders continuing together on a tour of the palace’s most iconic spaces — including the Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Chapel, and a special exhibition dedicated to the American Revolution — before sitting down to a formal state dinner.
French President Macron and his wife Brigitte greeted President Trump outside the Palace of Versailles in France to close out the G7 summit with a dinner that also commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence. pic.twitter.com/wka0y92WpM
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 17, 2026
Trump arrives at Versailles and wanders around aimlessly pic.twitter.com/3E5xNRQEDp
— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) June 17, 2026
Emmanuel Macron’s humor, the golden décor & Donald Trump’s reaction
During the visit, the French president sought to set a relaxed and friendly tone, joking about the grandeur of the venue and drawing attention to Versailles’ gilded decorations. “There’s a lot of gold in there — I’m glad you’ll get to see it,” he remarked characteristically, gesturing toward the interior of the palace.
For his part, Donald Trump appeared particularly pleased by the French president’s invitation to dine at the iconic royal palace, which he described as the “heavy artillery” of French history. “The French president, who turns out to be a very gracious man, invited me to have dinner at Versailles,” he had said on the sidelines of the G7 in Évian, adding: “Versailles — it’s not gilded, it’s the heavy artillery. And so I said I would love that very much.” The remark was a nod to his well-known taste for lavish aesthetics, which he has also brought to the White House since taking office in 2025.
Après 2h de retard
Donald Trump est accueilli à Versailles par Emmanuel Macron.
Place à une visite express de la galerie des glaces, l’exposition temporaire sur l’indépendance américaine… et le dîner @RMCInfo pic.twitter.com/ld9mufhM90
— Thomas Beker (@ThomasBeker_) June 17, 2026
France: Opposition reacts to Trump’s Versailles visit
Back in France, parts of the opposition voiced criticism, arguing that the dinner was designed to court and “entertain” the American president through an exceptionally spectacular setting. Macron, for his part, stressed that this was not a gala event, but a formal state dinner marking the 250th anniversary of American independence — highlighting France’s own historic role during that pivotal era.
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