President Donald Trump praised the long-standing relationship between the United States and France at the White House Tuesday morning upon the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Maron.
Trump spoke surrounded by the french president and his wife, as well as by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump.
Trump said it was fitting that his first official state visit was with the leader of America's oldest ally.
"Your visit, Mr. President, comes at a critical time for our alliance. Along with our British friends, the United States and France recently took decisive action in response to the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons," Trump said.
Most of Trump's speech focused on the historical link between France and the U.S., which Trump said "has changed the course of history."
He also commemorated Americans fighting with the French in World War I and World War II.
"Hundreds of thousands of young Americans and free french sacrificed together to save civilization in its hour of greatest need," he said.
"Today we meet to affirm this friendship that has flourished as an example to the world for more than two centuries," Trump said.
Macron spoke about working with the U.S. to defeat terrorism and improve the planet.
He also said it is important to resist the rise of aggressive nationalisms that "deny our history and divide the world."