Subject: Travel Pool Report #15 — Pool spray comments
Pool entered the room with POTUS and Macron at 2:38 PM local.
Macron spoke first, in French. POTUS was given a translation device roughly 2 minutes into Macron’s remarks, so the French leader switched to English and promised to repeat what he said.
POTUS and Macron took questions. Highlights below.
On Brexit/UK visit: “Very big news will be who is the new prime minister in the U.K. So I think before you can find out what’s going to happen in the next few weeks you have to find out who’s going to be the next leader.”
On timing of new tariffs on China: “I make that decision in the next two weeks after the G20. I will be meeting with President Xi and we’ll see what happens, we’re probably planning it sometime after G20.”
On disagreements with Macron on Iran: “I don’t think we have differences over Iran. The president doesn’t want to see Iran have nuclear weapons and neither do it.”
“They’re failing as a nation and I don’t want to see them fail as a nation. We can turn that around quickly.”
Macron jumped in to say he thinks “we do share he same objective.”
“We had an instrument until 2025,” Macron said, but “we want to go further.”
Macron added: “So we have to deliver together this sole objective.”
More TK
Subject: Travel Pool Report #16 — More from spray
POTUS and Trump were seated alone in a palatial room, beneath a stunning chandelier. The two appeared to get along well throughout the pool spray, nodding at each other’s remarks and talking at length about their experience with World War II veterans this morning.
Some remarks from POTUS below:
“Thank you very much. I will say we’ve had tremendous success working together.”
He referenced France’s participation in the campaign against ISIS, claiming that U.S. military personnel routinely tell him how “absolutely excellent” the French navy is.
He then talked about the D-Day anniversary. “This was a special day. We read about it all our lives and there are those who say it was the most important ever.”
“We met some great people today – some tremendous people, some very brave people. I look forward to coming back, hopefully many years we’ll be coming back.”
He said the D-Day invasion is “near the top” of history’s most important moments. “In some cases, it is the top.”
POTUS then previewed their bilateral talks. “We’ll be discussing trade and military and all sorts of things. A lot of people are anxious to see what we’re going to be doing together because as you know, and a lot of other people don’t know, we’re doing a lot together.”
“The relationship (between France and the U.S.) is outstanding... The relationship we’ve had together has been terrific.”
Some highlights from Macron’s remarks thanks to Eli Stokols of the LA Times:
“First, thank you, President Trump for your presence here. Thanks to your country, your nation and your veterans.”
“Your presence here is best evidence of his unbreakable [alliance? (inaudible)] between our two nations.”
He mentioned how US and French forces have fought side by side since World War II in Vietnam, Iraq and Syria.
He said the shared goal has always been to “protect democracy everywhere.”
“Thanks for this friendship, thanks for what your country did for our country, and thanks for what our two countries can do together.”
Pool was ushered out right around 3 PM local.