Tour of Versailles During Trump’s Visit
VERSAILLES, France—While President Donald Trump shared a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron at the Palace of Versailles on Thursday night, White House reporters took the opportunity to explore the historic palace.
Upon arriving at Paris Orly Airport after attending the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, Trump had a brief exchange with reporters on the tarmac, expressing a desire to arrange a tour of the palace.
Although White House reporters were not officially included in the tour with President Macron, they were later offered a tour by Versailles staff while the leaders enjoyed their dinner. The evening’s tour kicked off in the Coronation Room, which prominently features paintings of Napoleon and Josephine.
One significant piece, titled “Coronation Ceremony,” is about the size of a large movie screen and shows Napoleon crowning Empress Josephine in a grand event meant to assert the legitimacy of the Napoleonic Empire.
Our guide noted that historically, a pope would crown an emperor to signify the validity of his reign. However, due to Napoleon’s ascent to power, this never actually happened. The scene depicted in the painting suggests that Napoleon’s regime was legitimate and enduring, but, truthfully, it was quite the opposite.
The original coronation painting is housed in the Louvre. Versailles obtained a replica in 1947, which now resides in the Coronation Room.
Moving on from the coronation space, we entered a lavish bedroom in Marie Antoinette’s apartment, adorned with chandeliers, a hanging bed, and an intricate jewelry cabinet. This was the very room where Marie Antoinette lay asleep in October 1789 when a mob entered the palace.
Although the guards protecting the queen were killed, she made it to Louis XVI’s quarters. Unfortunately, that day marked their expulsion from Versailles, and they were executed by guillotine in 1793.
From Marie Antoinette’s apartment, we proceeded to the Hall of Mirrors, linking her bedroom to the king’s. This hall was the site of the Treaty of Versailles signing on June 28, 1919, which officially concluded World War I. Interestingly, during our visit, the White House disclosed that President Trump had just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Iran days earlier, nearly 107 years after the Treaty was signed.
After visiting the King’s apartment and the Royal Chapel’s Great Organ, the tour wrapped up, and the press was escorted back to the Royal Courtyard to wait for President Trump’s exit from the palace. Shortly thereafter, the president emerged with Macron and the First Lady, proceeding to his presidential limousine, known as the Beast.
“It’s signed. I signed it in Versailles. I just signed it,” Trump remarked to reporters as he entered the vehicle. The group then headed to Air Force One, marking the final presidential flight back to Joint Base Andrews, nearly four decades after the aircraft joined the fleet under the late President George H.W. Bush.
