Greeted by President Macron and Mrs. Macron, Dr. Biden joined 85 heads of state prior to the Opening Ceremony.
First Lady Biden, dressed in a periwinkle set, walked the long red carpet through the exterior courtyard. To her left, about 30 uniformed members of the French Republican Guard stood at attention, while a couple of hundred journalists and photographers, their shutters fluttering, were positioned to her right. She was accompanied by Denise Campbell Bauer, the U.S. Ambassador to France.
The Macrons, having already welcomed most of the other guests, greeted Dr. Biden about halfway up the carpet. President Macron was in a dark navy suit and tie, while Mme. Macron wore a marzipan-colored trenchcoat-like outfit with matching heels. Dr. Biden then entered the Élysée Palace, posing for photos with the Macrons under the Olympic rings affixed to the palace facade.
Eighty-five heads of state or their representatives were expected at the Élysée reception, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Other anticipated guests included UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank.
Later this evening, FLOTUS is expected to attend the Opening Ceremony, which begins at 7:30 PM local time (1:30 PM ET).
This is FLOTUS’s third encounter with the Macrons this year. The Bidens traveled to France in June for a state visit and to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy. In July, the Macrons visited Washington for the 2024 NATO summit.
Comments