As the Russia scandal looms over the White House, Trump heads to Paris for a meeting with Macron

President Trump shakes hands with Emmanuel Macron in Brussels
(Image credit: PETER DEJONG/AFP/Getty Images)

President Trump touched down in Paris Thursday morning, where he is expected to meet this afternoon with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss ways to improve relations between the United States and France. Officials say the two men, both newly elected presidents in their respective countries, will discuss global security and counterterrorism issues, along with the Syrian civil war.

But the conversations could be tense. During the French election, Trump effectively backed Macron's opponent, Marine Le Pen. And Macron has been a vocal critic of Trump's decision to pull America out of the Paris climate agreement. Their first meeting, CNN notes, "was marked by aggressive body language: Macron gripping Trump's hand for an extended shake, their eyes locking as cameras clicked away." But Reuters reports that one French official says Macron wants to "bring Trump back into the circle so that the United States, which remains the world's number one power, is not excluded."

The visit comes at a difficult time for Trump; his son, Donald Trump Jr., is facing scrutiny for agreeing to meet with a Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer back in 2016, after being promised dirt on Trump's then-presidential rival, Hillary Clinton. The scandal has brought new attention to the ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

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After the meeting, the two will have dinner with their wives on the second story of the iconic Eiffel Tower. On Friday, Trump will be a guest of honor at a Bastille Day celebration.

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Jessica Hullinger

Jessica Hullinger is a writer and former deputy editor of The Week Digital. Originally from the American Midwest, she completed a degree in journalism at Indiana University Bloomington before relocating to New York City, where she pursued a career in media. After joining The Week as an intern in 2010, she served as the title’s audience development manager, senior editor and deputy editor, as well as a regular guest on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. Her writing has featured in other publications including Popular Science, Fast Company, Fortune, and Self magazine, and she loves covering science and climate-related issues.