Macron plans Versailles dinner, golf to engage Trump at G7

Key facts

• French President Emmanuel Macron is considering hosting U.S. President Donald Trump for a private dinner at the Palace of Versailles during the G7 summit.
• The French government aims to use pageantry and flattery to ensure Trump's engagement on issues like the war in Ukraine and Iran.
• Trump is expected to attend the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains from June 15-17.
• Alternative engagement options, including golf, are also being considered due to Trump's unpredictability.
• French organizers have tailored the summit schedule and themes to Trump's interests.

French President Emmanuel Macron is exploring elaborate diplomatic strategies, including a private dinner at the Palace of Versailles or a golf outing, to ensure U.S. President Donald Trump remains engaged during the upcoming G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains. The French leadership aims to leverage grand displays of statecraft and flattery, lessons learned from previous interactions, to keep Trump focused on critical European concerns such as the war in Ukraine and the economic implications of the conflict in Iran.

Officials are preparing for Trump's visit from June 15-17, a period marked by heightened international tensions. Despite assurances of attendance, the unpredictability of the U.S. president means French organizers are not taking his full participation for granted. The potential Versailles dinner, scheduled for the summit's final day, would be an intimate affair, contrasting with the larger state banquet hosted for King Charles III. This approach mirrors past successful diplomatic tactics, such as Trump's reception at Windsor Palace and a previous improvised lunch hosted by Macron in 2019.

However, doubts linger in Europe regarding the efficacy of these diplomatic maneuvers, given Trump's past trade disputes and skepticism towards international institutions like the G7. Some European officials believe that such flattery is only effective when coupled with a clear power dynamic or immediate U.S. gain, which they feel unable to offer. Despite these concerns, there is hope that the summit might provide an opportunity to reaffirm Trump's commitment to the G7 framework, with preparations focusing on themes like global imbalances, a topic of particular interest to the U.S. president. The inclusion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, despite the complex relationship with Trump, adds another layer of potential unpredictability to the summit.