In Trump's confrontational world, "Macron comes across as straight arrow, ready for a fight," said Francois Heisbourg, a former French government adviser and current chair of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. At their NATO meeting, "Macron twists his arm. And this is the beginning of a great friendship," Heisbourg said.
The French president's U.S. visit will highlight "Macron's rather uncanny ability" to get along with hard-line leaders, Heisbourg said. "He is apparently the only one who can actually talk with all of them substantively, while at the same time not appearing to be jettisoning his own values."
Macron also hopes the Washington trip will also raise his profile everywhere else — from the EU to Syria and Israel-Palestinian peacemaking.
The trip will be a welcome distraction from Macron's troubles at home: He takes off the same day labor strikes are expected to halt a majority of French trains and a quarter of Air France flights.
As Macron prepares to be feted at two fancy dinners and give a special speech to Congress, the White House and Elysee Palace are stressing their likenesses instead of points of discord.
Both Macron and Trump are newcomers to politics with a background in business. And France is considered the first American ally, for helping the colonists win the Revolutionary War.
Macron will celebrate the long-running alliance by giving Trump an oak tree sapling from the site of one of the first World War I battles involving American troops, the Battle of Belleau Wood.
It's a sign of appreciation for the sacrifices America made for France— and an apparent nod to Macron's concern for the environment.
He wants it planted in the White House gardens.
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//www.apnewsarchive.com/2018/Emmanuel-Macron-s-tough-love-friendship-with-Donald-Trump-will-be-on-display-during-state-visit-to-Washington/id-2f253a3c791e426f88391bb0745baa1f