President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron have had many public disagreements in the last year.
But perhaps things are changing after Macron hosted Trump for dinner at the gilded Palace of Versailles on Wednesday.
“I’m a fan of beautiful places,” Trump said.
The president told reporters that he was planning to depart after the G7 bilateral meeting at Evian, France, on June 16, but that he couldn’t turn down Macron’s offer to dine at Versailles.
“Versailles is not a gold leaf. Versailles is the real deal,” Trump said.
So on June 16, Trump changed his itinerary and delayed his trip back from France to the U.S. on June 17 by a few hours after the G7 meeting.
“The French president, who happens to be a very nice man, invited me to dinner at Versailles,” Trump said, answering a question from a reporter about what prompted the change of plans.
“All it means is that I get home later in the evening, meaning early in the morning, and I’m not a big sleeper anyway,” Trump added.
“The real estate businessman-turned-president, well known for his penchant for gold, has bathed the Oval Office in a sea of gold,” USA Today noted.
“Gold-colored appliqués on the fireplace, gilded mirrors and ornate Rococo-style 18th and 19th century dessert stands and flower vases from London and France sit on the mantle. The walls are chockablock with paintings of former presidents in heavily ornate gold frames,” USA Today added.
Most astute gift givers to Trump have considered his love for the glittering metal.
By most accounts, the G7 Summit was a success for Trump and the world.
President Trump’s newly announced framework agreement with Iran dominated discussions at the G7 summit this week, with world leaders emerging from meetings far more supportive of the administration’s diplomatic efforts than many observers had anticipated.
What began as a summit expected to feature sharp disagreements over Iran and Ukraine instead concluded with growing signs of alignment between the United States and its allies on both issues.
According to multiple reports from officials attending the summit in France, G7 leaders largely praised Trump’s effort to secure a ceasefire framework with Iran while also signaling support for increasing economic pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine.
The development marked a notable shift from the tensions that had existed only days earlier.
At the center of the summit was Trump’s surprise diplomatic breakthrough with Tehran.
Administration officials confirmed that President Trump and Vice President JD Vance electronically signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran over the weekend. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf signed on behalf of Tehran.
While the agreement itself remains preliminary, officials describe it as the first phase of a broader process that will now move into detailed negotiations.
Vice President Vance spent much of the week pushing back against widespread reports claiming the deal contains a massive reconstruction fund worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
“We’ll be releasing the text this week,” Vance said.
“What everybody will see is that Iran doesn’t get a dime of money unless they perform their obligations.”
According to administration officials, no frozen Iranian assets have been released.
No sanctions have been lifted.
No direct payments have been authorized.
Instead, any future economic relief would be tied to strict compliance requirements involving Iran’s nuclear program.
Vance explained that Iran would need to permanently abandon efforts to obtain nuclear weapons, eliminate enriched nuclear stockpiles, and submit to extensive verification measures before meaningful sanctions relief could occur.
Officials have also indicated that Gulf nations could potentially invest in Iranian reconstruction projects in the future, but only if Tehran fully complies with the agreement.
One of the most significant outcomes of the agreement involves the Strait of Hormuz.
Administration officials say the strait is expected to fully reopen after Friday’s signing ceremony.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the economic importance of reopening the route.
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