A Joe Biden who risks a few words of French, an Emmanuel Macron all in familiarity and gestures of affection, and a frankly romantic gift: the American and French presidents displayed their friendship on Thursday.
This “bromance” – contraction of two American words, “brother” and “romance” – has more restraint than the major manifestations of friendship, real or simulated, staged by Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump in 2018 in this same House White.
At the time, an image had symbolized the state visit of the young French president: that of the Republican billionaire, quick to break all protocol codes, dusting film from his guest’s suit in the name of their “very privileged relationship”.
It was actually the beginning of the end of the honeymoon between the two leaders who, each in their own way, were attracting the light. And the prelude to a phase of tension and repeated crises.
This new trip to Washington has similarities: Emmanuel Macron is, as with Donald Trump, the first head of state to have the honor of a state visit since the inauguration of Joe Biden in early 2021.
And the pomp is the same: flags, cannon shots, military band and gala dinner.
Except that this time, the demonstration of friendship comes, not before, but after a very serious diplomatic crisis, having opposed France and the United States in September 2021 about a huge submarine contract with Australia.
– “It’s my friend” –
But Thursday, on a bright and freezing winter morning, “Joe” and “Emmanuel” made it clear that all was forgotten.
The American president ventured to pronounce in French “Liberté Egalité Fraternité”, while his counterpart spoke of two “sister” nations, linked by blood and their values.
After the arrival ceremony, they made their way to the Oval Office.
Why did you give Emmanuel Macron the honor of a first state visit? “Because he’s my friend,” Joe Biden replied to a journalist, while this “friend” put an affectionate arm on his shoulder before going to settle down by the fire in the most famous office. in the world.
“Emmanuel is not only the leader of France. He is one of the leaders of Europe”, “very frank and very driving force in Europe”, applauded the American head of state.
Beyond the “values” and the “fights” shared, “Joe” has “also become a friend”, added a little later Emmanuel Macron in a press conference all in superlatives between the quadra and the octogenarian, evacuating quickly their frictions on the trade which had nevertheless darkened the atmosphere the day before.
– Gastronomic pride –
After the 46th president in American history thanked France for its role in forging a historic agreement between Lebanon and Israel, Emmanuel Macron replied: “Let’s be honest, you did most of the work.”
Immediate dismissal of the Democratic leader, praising the “finisher” qualities of his counterpart: “We negotiated but we needed a finisher to close the deal, you did it.”
As usual with his allies, Emmanuel Macron slipped from formal to informal, while the American president was delighted to have been able, the day before, to escape for a rare dinner in town with their wives Brigitte Macron and Jill Biden.
They will set the table again on Thursday evening in the much more solemn setting of a gala dinner, the menu of which signals, however, that diplomatic affection ends where gastronomic pride begins: in fact, only wines and cheeses will be served ” made in USA”.
Who says state trip also says meaningful gift exchanges.
For France, the present could only be romantic: a vinyl of the soundtrack of the film “Un homme, une femme”, famous for its song of the same title, a heady ritornello to the tune of “Dabadabada”, or ” Chabadabada” according to the transcript.
The Elysée claims that Joe and Jill Biden went to see this work by Claude Lelouch during their first date.