Inside Trump's glamorous double date with the Macrons - in pictures

French and US presidents dined at Mount Vernon estate

US President Donald Trump (2-L) and First Lady Melania Trump (L) walk with French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and his wife Brigitte Macron (2-R) walk from the Oval Office to a tree planting ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on April 23, 2018. Shawn Thew / EPA

French President Emmanuel Macron stands with US President Donald Trump and US first lady Melania Trump at Mount Vernon, the estate of the first US President George Washington, in Mount Vernon, Virginia, on April 23, 2018. Ludovic Marin / AFP

A place setting for the State Dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron is shown in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, US, April 23, 2018. Joshua Roberts / Reuters

Cherry blossom flowers decorate the Cross Hall for the State Dinner for France's President Emmanuel Macron at the White House in Washington, US, April 23, 2018. Joshua Roberts / Reuters

US President Donald Trump (L), with First Lady Melania Trump (C) shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron (R) during a tree planting ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on April 23, 2018. Shawn Thew / EPA

US President Donald Trump, centre, walks into the Mansion at the Mount Vernon estate of first US President George Washington with US First Lady Melania Trump, left, Emmanuel Macron, France's president, centre right, and Brigitte Macron, France's first lady, yellow, in Mount Vernon, Virginia, US, on Monday, April 23, 2018. Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg

Marine One, carrying US President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, prepares to land on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, US, on April 23, 2018. Joshua Roberts / Reuters

French First Lady Brigitte Macron, French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Donald J Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump stand for photographers in front of Marine One after a dinner at the Mount Vernon estate of first US President George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia, USA, on April 23, 2018. Andrew Harrer / EPA

US President Donald Trump waves after stepping out of a golf cart following a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) at the Mount Vernon estate of first US President George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia, USA, on April 23, 2018. President Macron will be in Washington DC for three days for a state visit at the White House and an address to a joint session of Congress on 25 April. Andrew Harrer / EPA

A view of the mansion at the Mount Vernon estate of first US President George Washington during a dinner between US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron in Mount Vernon, Virginia, USA, on April 23, 2018. Andrew Harrer / EPA

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron walk to pose for a picture on a visit to the estate of the first US President George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia outside Washington, US, on April 23, 2018. Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stand with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron following a dinner at Mount Vernon, the estate of the first US President George Washington, in Mount Vernon, Virginia, April 23, 2018. Ludovic Marin / AFP

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stand with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron following a dinner at Mount Vernon, the estate of the first US President George Washington, in Mount Vernon, Virginia, April 23, 2018. Ludovic Marin / AFP

US President Donald Trump (L) confers with French President Emmanuel Macron (R) following a dinner at Mount Vernon, the estate of the first US President George Washington, in Mount Vernon, Virginia, April 23, 2018. Ludovic Marin / AFP

Cherry blossom flowers decorate the Cross Hall for the State Dinner for France's President Emmanuel Macron at the White House in Washington, US, April 23, 2018. Joshua Roberts / Reuters

Tables for the State Dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron are shown in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, US, April 23, 2018. Joshua Roberts / Reuters

Tables for the State Dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron are shown from the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, US, on April 23, 2018. Joshua Roberts / Reuters

Tables for the State Dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron are shown in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, US, April 23, 2018. Joshua Roberts / Reuters

The French and American presidents walked in step as they approached George Washington's historic Mount Vernon mansion overlooking the Potomac River, their stiletto-clad wives following as a harpist serenaded the glamorous double date.

Donald Trump's answer to a lavish Eiffel Tower dinner last summer at the invitation of Emmanuel Macron, Monday's theatricality set the stage for the US president's first state dinner - as well as two days of talks over hot-button issues including the Iran nuclear accord.

The Macrons joined the Trumps for the outing to the Mount Vernon estate after the French president and his wife Brigitte visited the White House, where the world leaders appeared jovial despite differing on myriad issues in recent months.

Wielding golden shovels, the leaders together planted an oak sapling from Macron as a testament of Franco-American friendship.

Later in the evening the couples boarded the US leader's Marine One helicopter that whisked them to Mount Vernon for a private dinner.

Upon arriving, the Trumps and Macrons posed for a brief photo-op before golf carts chauffeured them to Washington's historic plantation mansion.

A single photo of the manor's interior, released by France's Elysee, showed the two presidents speaking in front of a small table decorated with roses.

Mrs Macron donned a daffodil tailored shift dress and jacket ensemble that contrasted sharply with a black waist tie and high heels. Those shoes' vertiginous height was slightly outdone by the even taller pair of Louboutins that Melania Trump wore along with a little black dress and matching tuxedo-style cape, her long nails painted white.

Both world leaders sported dark suits, Mr Macron wearing a dark gray tie and Mr Trump's in bright blue.

Following the two-hour meal the couples reboarded the roaring helicopter to embark on the rest of the three-date state visit, which will include weighty diplomatic talks and a much-anticipated state dinner on Tuesday evening.

The menu for that dinner, with more than 100 guests expected, will include rack of lamb and jambalaya.

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The White House said the colour scheme for the dinner is cream and gold and food will be served on china from the presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W Bush.

The Cross Hall of the White House will be decorated with more than 1,200 cherry blossom branches, while the dining room will feature white sweet peas and white lilacs.

Entertainment for the glitzy affair will be provided by the Washington National Opera.