The Élysée Palace is preparing a dinner for two at the luxurious residence of King Louis XIV, which is expected to coincide with the G-7 summit later this month, two French officials familiar with the preparations told the publication.
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The plan would be to capitalize on Trump’s penchant for luxurious, gold-adorned interiors to help ensure that the US president remains engaged in key issues relevant to Europe, such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and the economic impact of the conflict in Iran.
On June 15-17, Trump is expected to visit the French Alpine resort of Evian-les-Bains.
The president promised to fly to France after watching fights on the White House lawn, but France took nothing for granted and wants to ensure he doesn’t withdraw from the meeting prematurely.
“I think he has almost confirmed his participation in the G7,” said a person close to the French president.
Given Trump’s unpredictability, the source emphasized that the dinner is not confirmed and there are other options. “Anything is possible, there’s also a golf course in Evian.”
European leaders have been trying for almost a decade to devise a formula for having more influence over Trump. One lesson already learned is that praise, pomp, and a touch of royal luxury can help smooth relations with a president who has long been skeptical of groups like the G-7.
However, it remains unclear whether, as the US administration tries to navigate its confrontation with Iran, Trump, who has repeatedly accused NATO allies of disappointing him, is interested in spending time with European, Canadian, and Japanese leaders.
One lawmaker from Macron’s liberal Renaissance party summarized the summit as something Europeans “just need to get through.”
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“We must avoid a situation like last year in Canada, when Trump left [the G7] early, or the crisis over Greenland,” noted the lawmaker, who, like others quoted in the article, was granted anonymity to speak frankly.
According to the article, the French are primarily thinking about how to prevent Trump from withdrawing from the G-7 summit or completely derailing it.
As first reported by Politico, Macron had already moved the summit date, which was originally scheduled to begin on June 14, so that the US president could attend celebrations planned for his birthday. The meeting organizers also adapted the guest list with Trump in mind.
The dinner in Versailles, if it takes place, is scheduled for June 17, the last day of the summit, and will be much more intimate than the state banquet held for King Charles III, which gathered nearly 200 guests.
“You have to stun him and flatter him,” said one European official, noting that Macron and Trump “have already been to the Eiffel Tower… What’s left if not the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles?”
European leaders have observed that Trump’s most successful visits involved embraces with members of royal families, preferably in palaces, such as dinner with the King and Queen of the Netherlands during last year’s NATO summit in The Hague.
Trump also seemed genuinely impressed by the royal reception at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom.
“There’s always an element of risk with the Trump administration,” noted one of the publication’s interlocutors. “They’re not afraid of conflict.”
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