So much has changed since Trump first took office in January 2017 and Macron ascended four months later. Russia is fighting a war in Europe; Israel is engaged in bloody conflict with militant groups on its doorstep; the U.K. has left the EU; and France’s political system is now paralyzed, with the far right poised for power as Macron’s popularity lies in tatters.
But Macron has form, both in using French pageantry when times are tough, and in cozying up to Trump. It’s a bromance the like of which the world has rarely seen.
The question is whether the trip to France will show Trump looking to maintain a facade of statesmanship heading into his second term, or if he’ll revert to the bombastic, Euroskeptic tendencies seen in his first four years. One thing is certain though: He’ll revel in the glitzy, TV-friendly event — a fact Macron is well aware of. His invitation reflects a shrewd awareness of what titillates the man who will still be in the White House long after his best French buddy has relinquished power.
Weird handshakes and military parades
Macron and Trump’s relationship has shaped both their presidencies.
Few can forget the 29-second alpha-male white-knuckle handshake between the pair at a NATO summit in Brussels in 2017, Macron’s first big international appearance, which he described as a “moment of truth”.
A month or so later, he pulled out all the stops in welcoming Trump to that year’s Bastille Day celebrations in Paris and impressed his American counterpart with marching bands, parades and fly-pasts. Two years later at the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Macron tried to harness France’s and Europe’s history by appealing directly to Trump to filfill the “promise of Normandy” by recognizing the importance of the EU and NATO.
And so in 2024 the relationship continues to flourish. Macron rushed to congratulate Trump on his victory last month even before it was confirmed. As Trump prepares to land in the French capital, Macron hopes to leverage what French officials describe as a “proximity” with his American counterpart to convince him that he’s the European he should be listening to.
