President Donald Trump will invite French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House for an official state visit later this year, the first of Trump's presidency.
CNN first reported on Tuesday that Trump was expected to invite Macron for the first state visit of his administration, citing diplomatic sources. CBS News later reported the same with more details, and Fox News confirmed with a senior White House official that Macron will be the guest of honor at the first White House state dinner, to be held on April 24.
NEW: Senior WH official confirms: @realDonaldTrump first WH state dinner on 4/24 w/ @EmmanuelMacron . @FoxNews
— Fin Gómez (@finnygo) January 23, 2018
The White House has yet to release an official statement, but one is expected later this week, while Trump attends the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Trump has hosted several world leaders in Washington since he took office last January, but none were official state visits, which are more formal and extravagant.
Macron's visit will include a formal white-tie dinner at the White House, hosted by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
Macron is also expected to address Congress during his trip.
Trump and the first lady were Macron's guests of honor last July in Paris to celebrate Bastille Day, an annual French holiday that commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, a turning point of the French Revolution.
Trump is the first president in decades not to host a state dinner during his first year in the White House.