Since before there was a United States, Americans have had a love affair with Paris. President Donald Trump, who will leave for the French capital on Wednesday, does not share that affection.
Several cities have been the subject of Trump’s derision and mockery like Paris. He has described the city as a dystopian land of terror attacks with radicalized neighborhoods, a city “so, so, so out of control, so dangerous,” as he declared in June 2016, Politico reads.
Moreover, he has held it up as a symbol of a global system that takes advantage of the United States and its workers, proudly proclaiming he represents “Pittsburgh, not Paris” as he pulled the U.S. from a global climate deal.
Feelings are mutual. About 14 percent of people in France have confidence that Trump will “do the right thing regarding world affairs” according to the Pew Research Center, down from more than 75 percent who had confidence in former President Barack Obama. George W. Bush’s numbers were similarly low by the end of his presidency.
Now, Trump heads to the city he says lives “in fear,” where he will meet Thursday with a young and dynamic new president, Emmanuel Macron, who has made his unwillingness to be cowed by Trump abundantly clear.
Trump will also have lunch with military officials, tour the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte and attend Bastille Day events on Friday, France’s major national holiday.
The White House said Trump would discuss Syria and countering terrorism. But coming on the heels of two trips during which Trump was at odds with other world leaders — Macron criticized the United States over its climate stance during a closed-door meeting at last week’s G-20 summit, two people briefed on it said — some observers wonder why the trip is even happening.
“Macron is still fairly popular; he’s just been elected. … But at the same time, I’m pretty sure a majority of people don’t understand why he’s actually hosting Donald Trump,” said Philippe Le Corre, a France expert at the nonpartisan Brookings Institution who previously served with the French Ministry of Defense. “It’s also interesting that Trump, who has had two fairly difficult trips to Europe, is actually willing to come to Europe.”
“He may like a good parade,” Le Corre quipped, noting Trump and Macron are expected to attend a Bastille Day parade together.
The White House has billed the trip as a gesture of allegiance, saying Trump “looks forward to reaffirming America’s strong ties of friendship with France, to celebrating this important day with the French people, and to commemorating the 100th anniversary of America’s entry into World War I.”
To be sure, even if the two country’s leaders hardly see eye to eye, many see room for the friendship between the nations to continue.
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