Washington — President Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, to the White House on Thursday for a state visit, the first of the Biden presidency.
The Bidens greeted the Macrons on the South Lawn for an arrival ceremony with U.S. military honor and ceremonial guards as hundreds of visitors looked on. Vice President Kamala Harris, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other top Biden administration officials were also on hand to greet the Macrons. A military band played the national anthems of both nations before both leaders addressed the crowd.
“As my friend and I were talking, France is our oldest ally. Our unwavering partner in freedom’s cause,” the U.S. president said, offering appreciation for France’s partnership in defending democracy.
Mr. Biden and Macron both noted the importance of standing up for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
“France and the United States are facing down Vladimir Putin’s grasping ambition for conquest, and Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, which has once more shattered peace on the continent of Europe,” Mr. Biden said. “France and the United States are once again defending the democratic values and universal human rights which are the heart of both our nations. The wellspring of our strength is a shared commitment to liberty and justice for all — liberté, égalité, fraternité.”
JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS
The two world leaders are set to hold a bilateral meeting, followed by a rare joint press conference. On Thursday night, Mr. Biden and the first lady are set to host the Macrons for a state dinner.
The first lady previewed the state dinner on Wednesday. The event will take place on the South Lawn of the White House, with between 300 and 400 guests expected to attend.
As the official gift, the president and first lady presented the Macrons with a custom mirror made of fallen wood from the White House grounds. It’s a reproduction of a mirror for the White House collection that hangs in the West Wing. Mr. Biden also gave the French president a custom vinyl collection of great American musicians.
Mr. Biden and Macron have spoken numerous times over the president’s time in office and met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Macron also traveled to the U.S. for a state visit hosted by former President Donald Trump in 2018. First elected to lead France in 2017, Macron defeated far-right challenger Marine Le Pen to win a second term in April.
