Macron's Bastille Day invite to Trump sparks debate

An invitation by the French President to Donald Trump to attend July 14 national holiday celebrations in Paris has sparked debate.Some commentators say the US President’s participation in the military parade for Bastille Day, alongside American and French troops, is a sign Emmanuel Macron does not want to let very public differences over climate change affect bilateral ties.Others describe Trump’s visit to Paris, to also commemorate the US entry into World War One, as a “political and media coup” for Macron, who is keen to establish himself on the world stage. Bastille Day marks the storming of the prison at Bastille in Paris in 1789 during the French Revolution.Macron has been praised by anti-Trump groups for apparently standing up to the US President on climate change, transforming the US President’s ‘Make America Great Again’ slogan into ‘Make the Planet Great Again’. But the French leader has also made it clear he wants to have a pragmatic relationship with Trump and work together on issues where there is agreement. One of those areas is the fight against terrorism.It is also reported that Macron has not given up hope that Trump will change his mind on pulling out of the Paris agreement on climate change and that he can be brought back into the deal. A far-left political leader and former presidential candidate, Jean-Luc Melenchon, has already spoken out against Trump’s visit to Paris, echoing similar opposition that has been voiced about a possible state visit by Trump to the UK.Melenchon described Trump as ‘violent’ and said he should not be welcomed to Paris.