Macron to Host Trump for Dinner at Versailles Following G7 Summit
French President Emmanuel Macron will welcome President Donald Trump for a dinner at the Palace of Versailles next week, following the G7 summit of major industrialized nations in Evian-les-Bains, France, according to an announcement from both governments on Saturday.
According to the report, Macron’s office said the dinner, set for Wednesday, will mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and will take place at Versailles, described as a historic symbol of Franco-American friendship. The palace, once home to French kings from Louis XIV to Louis XVI, regularly hosts visiting heads of state, and Macron previously held a Hall of Mirrors dinner there for King Charles III and Queen Camilla in 2021.
Trump’s Busy Sideline Schedule: Iran, Hormuz and Trade Talks
Ahead of the dinner, Trump is expected to have a packed schedule of bilateral meetings on the summit sidelines. He is reportedly working to finalize an Iran war deal and is expected to discuss with allies plans to remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz, with Britain and France both expressing interest in helping demine the waterway once the conflict pauses. He also plans separate talks with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and India, with India’s prime minister expected to discuss progress on a bilateral trade deal.
G7 Agenda: Ukraine, Iran, AI and Critical Minerals
The G7 summit, which opens Monday, brings together leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States to discuss economic growth, critical mineral supply chains, illegal immigration and artificial intelligence. The wars in Ukraine and Iran are also expected to dominate discussions, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attending, though no formal Trump-Zelenskyy meeting is currently scheduled.
Trump’s Arrival Follows White House Birthday Event
Trump is set to arrive in France on Monday afternoon, following a primetime mixed martial arts event held on the White House lawn to mark his 80th birthday on Sunday.
