US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Vice President Kamala Harris celebrated their country's enduring friendship with France during a luncheon with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Mr Blinken pointed to Benjamin Franklin's journey to France during the Revolutionary War to drum up support for the American military — a visit that left a lasting impression on the founding father.
“For more than two centuries, the United States and France have built upon the foundation of those early ties — and today, we are unwavering security allies, close economic partners and most of all, cherished friends,” Mr Blinken said.
Now, in the post-Cold War era, Mr Blinken said the world faces a new set of challenges, including the war in Ukraine, ensuring the advancement of an open Indo-Pacific region and staving off future pandemics.
“This is a challenge that we can best meet as friends, and, for the United States, alongside our very first friend,” he said.
“The bottom line is this: it’s hard to find a challenge that we can’t solve if the United States and France work together.”
Mr Macron added: “We are very much engaged together to help the Ukrainians in this war and to resist to the Russian aggression.
“And I want to thank your country for the unique commitment and investment alongside the Ukrainian people and in great solidarity with the Europeans.”
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US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte to the White House for a state dinner on December 1. AFP -
Ms Biden shows the Macrons into the White House's Blue Room. AP -
It was the first official state visit of the Biden administration. EPA -
Guests dined in heated tents amid candle-style lighting on the South Lawn. Reuters -
The presidents make a toast. AFP -
Cheers for the Bidens in the dining area. AP -
The Macrons enter. AP -
Actress Ariana DeBose and designer Henry Munoz III arrive at the White House. Reuters -
Mr Biden and Mr Macron have found common ground on the trip. AP -
The couples pose for a photo at the North Portico of the White House. EPA -
Christian Louboutin, the French fashion designer, arrives for the state dinner. EPA -
Singer Jon Batiste and his wife, author Suleika Jaouad, make their way into the White House. EPA -
Janet Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury, and economist George Akerlof. EPA -
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and daughter Jessica. EPA -
The President's daughter Ashley Biden, right, and her friend Elysia Bevan. EPA -
Stephen Breyer, a former Supreme Court associate justice. EPA -
Batiste and Jaouad in the White House. EPA -
Congressman Gregory Meeks and Ebony Meeks-Laidley. EPA -
US singer John Legend and his wife, model Chrissy Teigen. EPA -
Mr Macron and his wife Brigitte in a candid moment on the North Portico of the White House. EPA -
US actress Jennifer Garner and daughter Violet Affleck. EPA -
Anna Wintour, editor in chief at Vogue, and Australian director Baz Luhrmann. EPA -
US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and his wife Tanya Mayorkas. Reuters -
Katherine Tai, US trade representative. EPA -
Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her son, actor Charlie Hall. Reuters -
A closer look at Wintour. EPA -
Television host Stephen Colbert and his wife Evelyn McGee-Colbert. Reuters -
Fashion designer Gabriela Hearst and Stephanie Lasnier de Lavalette. EPA -
House Majority Whip Representative James Clyburn and Virginia Newman. EPA -
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and daughter Alexandra. EPA -
Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Hollyanne Milley. EPA -
Debra Haaland, Secretary of the Interior, and Lloyd Sayre. EPA -
Julia Louis-Dreyfus with her son, actor Charles Hall. EPA -
Peter Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation, and Chasten Glezman Buttigieg. EPA -
Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough, hosts of MSNBC's Morning Joe. EPA -
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Lafayette Greenfield II. AP -
ABC television host Robin Roberts and Gaila Amber Laign. EPA -
US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. AFP -
Mr Biden said he would not apologise for a new climate and tax law that European leaders say unfairly subsidises US companies, but that he would make accommodations. Bloomberg -
Steve Jobs's widow Laurene Powell Jobs and son Reed. EPA -
The Bidens lead the Macrons into the state dinner. AFP -
Governor of Connecticut Edward Lamont and wife Annie Lamont hold up a sign for Mr Macron. AFP -
Valerie Biden Owens, the President's sister. EPA -
Ms Macron steps out of a limousine as she arrives at the White House. EPA -
Ms Biden and Ms Macron are both teachers. EPA -
The Bidens come downstairs to greet their guests. AP -
Ms Biden speaks alongside Batiste as the Bidens host the Macrons for a State Dinner at the White House. Reuters -
Dinner time for Mr and Mrs Macron. Reuters -
Batiste serenades the attendees. AFP
Ms Harris said the US and France will be “guided by our shared history and our shared vision for the future”.
In a separate meeting earlier this week, Ms Harris and Mr Macron discussed space exploration efforts, as the French President lobbied to place one of his compatriots on the spacecraft that will send a new batch of astronauts to the Moon in 2025.
“I have a candidate for flying … to the Moon,” he told Ms Harris at Nasa headquarters on Wednesday. “He wants to go to Artemis 3.”
The President was referring to French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who has gone to the International Space Station twice.
Mr Macron's visit to the US is the first state visit during President Joe Biden's administration.
At an elaborate dinner hosted at the White House on Thursday night, both leaders expressed their nations' continued commitment to Ukraine's defence.
The French leader is expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days. Mr Biden said he would meet Mr Putin only if Russia leaves Ukraine, an offer that was rejected by the Kremlin.
Who is White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford?
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Cristeta Comerford was the White House assistant chef in 2002 and was quickly promoted to executive chef. Photo: George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum -
Ms Comerford presents calotte of beef, which will be served to President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House. EPA -
Ms Comerford shows off her butter-poached Maine lobster and other dishes during a preview of a White House state dinner. EPA -
The White House menu features elaborate dishes including a creme fraiche ice cream. AFP -
Ms Comerford will also present a trio of American cheeses in the red, white and blue-themed dinner at the White House. AFP -
Ms Comerford, second right, with White House executive pastry chef Susie Morrison. AP -
A trio of American cheeses and other dishes are displayed. AP -
The White House state dinner will include a butter-poached Maine lobster. AP -
US first lady Jill Biden is accompanied by Ms Comerford before the White House state dinner. AP -
Ms Comerford, second left, works with staff in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House to plate a course in 2011. Photo: Official White House Photo / Pete Souza -
Barack Obama fist-bumps executive pastry chef Susie Morrison after sampling pies with his wife Michelle Obama, ABC anchor Robin Roberts and Ms Comerford during an interview about Thanksgiving in the White House kitchen in 2014. Photo: Official White House Photo / Pete Souza -
Ms Comerford, foreground, briefs staff on preparations for a state dinner honouring Mexico in 2010. Photo: Official White House Photo / Samantha Appleton -
Michelle Obama, who was first lady at the time, laughs with Ms Comerford, right, as she gives a kitchen preview for a dinner at the White House in 2009. Reuters -
Ms Obama is joined by Ms Comerford, right, and children of military families for a craft project during the 2012 holiday decorations press preview. Photo: Official White House Photo / Chuck Kennedy -
Barack Obama, who was president at the time, and former German chancellor Angela Merkel tour the White House kitchen garden in 2014. Photo: Official White House Photo / Pete Souza -
Ms Obama and Rachael Ray, back right, watch Ms Comerford and children preparing a meal in 2016. Photo: Official White House Photo / Amanda Lucidon -
Ms Comerford and Laura Bush, the first lady at the time, discuss holiday food in the State Dining Room. Photo: National Archives -
Ms Comerford in the kitchen with then-first lady Michelle Obama. Photo: Obama White House Archives -
Ms Comerford hosts a media preview of an official dinner in honour of the Japanese prime minister, hosted by George W and Laura Bush. Photo: National Archives -
The menu created by Ms Comerford for the prime minister of Japan. Photo: National Archives -
Guillaume Gomez, Special Representative of the President of France for Gastronomy, gives the insignia of Officier du Merite Agricole to Ms Comerford in 2022. AFP -
Ms Comerford, the first woman in charge of the White House kitchen, was inducted into France's Order of Agricultural Merit at the rank of officer. AFP -
Ms Comerford holds dishes that will be served at Thursday evening's State Dinner. Reuters -
Comerford and staff work in the Kitchen of the White House in 2009. Official White House Photo / Joyce N Boghosian
