Macron hosts Trump for opulent Versailles dinner after G7, calling the palace an 'instrument of power'

A royal welcome

Donald Trump arrived at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday evening, 17 June 2026, after a roughly one-hour delay from the G7 summit in Evian. Stepping out of his armoured Cadillac into the royal courtyard as the sun set, he was greeted by Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron. The American president, known for his taste in gold and grandeur, remarked upon seeing the palace: 'Ce n'est pas du plaqué or, c'est du lourd' (that is not gold-plated, it is the real thing).

“We are going to have a good time, it's going to be fantastic.”

The evening was carefully choreographed to impress: a tour of the Hall of Mirrors, a mini-concert in the Royal Chapel, a walk through a gallery dedicated to the American War of Independence, and a dinner served in the Low Gallery. The Élysée framed the event as a fitting tribute to the 250th anniversary of US independence, noting Versailles was a 'high place of Franco-American friendship' where a treaty was signed in 1783.

Menu and guests

The dinner for around thirty guests included an amuse-bouche of black pork from Bigorre, a main of white asparagus and poultry, a French cheese platter, and a chocolate tart. Attendees comprised representatives of the American and French governments, the foreign and economy ministers of both nations, and business figures. Before the meal, the two presidents and their spouses toured the Hall of Mirrors and attended a concert in the chapel. Despite the lavish setting, President Macron insisted: 'Ce n'est pas un dîner de gala' (this is not a gala dinner).

Political headwinds at home

The splendour of the event drew sharp criticism from the French left. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the La France insoumise candidate for the 2027 presidential election, protested that France must 'definitively learn to live without Trump.' Local residents of Versailles, whose day was complicated by the heavy security apparatus, were divided. 'It is without a doubt excessive, but since he is a somewhat excessive character himself, it goes very well together,' one local told reporters. 'It's a very good thing, at least he's in the City of Princes, we'll get to see kings,' another added.

“We must definitively learn to live without Trump.”

Macron rejected the criticism, arguing that France should not be ashamed of its heritage. He positioned Versailles as a deliberate tool of statecraft.

“Versailles is a diplomatic instrument and an instrument of power.”

Diplomacy behind the gold leaf

The dinner capped a G7 summit carefully tailored to Trump's preferences after he walked out early from the previous year's gathering in Canada. This time, the American president stayed for the full duration. During a working session on Wednesday, Trump himself joked about his status, telling the room 'Je suis le patron' (I am the boss). The summit supported the Iran ceasefire deal that Trump negotiated, and the president publicly credited his hosts: 'President Macron has done a good job, and Brigitte too.'

Macron, in turn, praised Trump's shift on Ukraine and defended their relationship. He noted that while the two leaders have openly acknowledged disagreements, Trump has kept commitments he has made to France, and that the United States' engagement on Ukraine announced at the summit was a concrete outcome.

“I have never been ambiguous or weak.”

The cost of the evening remains undisclosed, though sources noted previous similar state dinners at Versailles have run into several hundred thousand euros. The Élysée described the event as 'sober' despite the regal backdrop.