President Joe Biden was feted by his French counterpart on Saturday evening with a formal state dinner in Paris, where a newly-wed D-Day veteran stole the attention at an event that featured marque names in fashion, Hollywood and politics.
The focus of the night was to celebrates relations between France and the United States.
‘France was our first ally and that’s not insignificant,’ said Biden to President Emmanuel Macron as they toasted each other.
‘The fact of the matter is you were with us to help us secure our freedom and we were with you 170 years later to do the same. And ever since we’ve remained united, unyielding, as well as unwavering in our partnership.’
That was the theme of the Biden’s visit, as the two leaders marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day on the beaches of Normandy this week, when Allied forces began the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany.
Singer Pharrell Williams, actors Salma Hayek and Léa Seydoux, tennis great John McEnroe, in town for the French Open, were all on the guest list, along with political heavyweights and titans of the fashion industry.
The Bidens were there as guests of President Macron and first lady Brigitte Macron, who were returning the favor for their state visit to Washington in 2022.
The dinner was not black tie and some guests got creative in their dress, ranging from Williams in blue jeans and a white cowboy hat to Hayek in a black ballgown with a billowing skirt and see-through lace top.
The first ladies dressed for the occasion with Jill Biden in a blue velvet gown accessorized with a white scarf tied around her waist. It billowed out behind her in the breeze on the crisp, cool Paris evening night. Brigitte Macron wore a long white sheath.
The presidents were in dark suits and ties.
The dinner took place in the Elysee Palace ballroom. Massive chandeliers hung from ceiling; French and American flags decorated the columns.
American lawmakers were well represented with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a congressional delegation that had been in France for D-Day commemorations, including Senator Joe Manchin and Rep. Steve Scalise.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy came with wife Carla Bruni.
Top names in French fashion walked the red carpet.
The rival families that own the two big fashion conglomerates in world attended: Bernard Arnault, the President-CEO of Louis Vuitton-Moët Hennessy and his daughter Delphine; versus François-Henri Pinault, President-CEO of Kering, which owns Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Alexander McQueen.
But it was a newly married couple that stole the show.
World War II veteran Harold Terens, 100, and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin, 96, were married on Saturday in a ceremony close to the Normandy beaches were Allied forces came ashore.
The French president gave them a special shoutout during his toast.
‘Let us congratulate the young newlyweds,’ said Macron, as everyone stood and turned to the couple. ‘We’re very pleased to be your for your wedding dinner.’
Earlier the two leaders discussed tackling China, as well as conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. And although there are tensions over trade, the two were keen to highlight areas of agreement.
They said the two countries will work to contain tensions around the Israeli war against the Hamas militant group.
‘We are redoubling efforts together to avoid a regional explosion, particularly in Lebanon,’ said Macron.
Earlier Macron and his wife welcomed Biden and first lady Jill Biden in a pomp-filled ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe. The two leaders stood shoulder to shoulder beneath a fluttering French tricolor to honor the nation’s war dead.
‘Proud to be here,’ said Biden. ‘A great honor.’
It is a chance for France to return the favor after Biden hosted Macron for a state visit at the White House in 2022. And the French media have made much of the fact that their guest is in the country for five days, taking in the D-Day anniversary.
‘France is … our oldest and one of our deepest allies. And this will be an important moment to affirm that alliance and also look to the future and what we have to accomplish together,’ U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters.
They were to discuss Russia’s war with Ukraine, the crisis in Gaza, as well as climate change, artificial intelligence and supply chains, he said.
They were also expected to announce plans to work together in the Indo-Pacific on port security and on maritime law enforcement.
Biden and his officials have repeatedly pointed out that France is the oldest ally of the U.S., sending troops to fight in the Revolutionary War against Britain.
‘It’s probably a good thing for us to remember that we didn’t win our independence either without some foreign help or foreign assistance, specifically from France,’ is how White House national security spokesman John Kirby put it on Friday.
Yet that relationship comes with strains. Macron has repeatedly pushed Biden to go further in his support for Ukraine, even suggesting that he would send French forces to train Ukrainian troops in a move the American president fears would only escalate Russian aggression.
And, in line with other European leaders, Macron has been far more critical of Israel in its waging of war in Gaza than Biden.
That all comes with a big dose of Gallic indignation at any hint of American cultural imperialism, coupled with U.S. exasperation at French sensitivities.
And then there is potentially the thorniest issue of all: Trade.
Officials throughout Europe are infuriated by Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. They see its subsidies for American-made products as an unfair, protectionist move that makes it harder for European companies to compete.
The issue threatened to overshadow Macron’s 2022 state visit to Washington and embarrass his hosts.
In a meeting with American lawmakers, Marcon reportedly described it as a ‘super aggressive’ move against E.U. competitors.
There was no time for any of that during the official welcome ceremony. There was a military parade, a fly-over by French fighter jet and anthems.
First lady Jill Biden was at the president’s side after flying back to the U.S. in a whirlwind visit to make sure she was with stepson Hunter as his trial on gun charges continues.
While she was away, Biden spent Friday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, where he apologized for a months-long delay by Congress in approving tens of billions of dollars of military aid.
And then he flew to Normandy for a much-trailed speech, connecting the spirit of the U.S. heroes of D-day with the contemporary fight for democracy.
‘Does anyone doubt they would want America to stand up against Putin’s aggression here in Europe today,’ he said.
‘They stormed the beaches alongside our allies. Does anyone believe Rangers want America to go it alone today.’
It was the second visit to the landing beaches in as many days. On Thursday, he led tributes at the American cemetery before joining other world leaders at an international ceremony.