French President Emmanuel Macron continued his visit to the United States on Friday in New Orleans to promote shared culture and commitment to climate policy.
This is the first French presidential visit to the Crescent City since Valery Giscard d’Estaing in 1976. The only other French presidential visit was by Charles de Gaulle in 1960.
After a state dinner in Washington, DC on Thursday with President Biden and a bevy of celebrities like John Legend and lawmakers like Kevin McCarthy, Friday’s diplomatic programming didn’t officially begin until the early afternoon.
Macron began his tour of New Orleans in Jackson Square in the French Quarter, where he met Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who may soon be recalled.
FRANCE’S EMMANUEL MACRON DEFINES Biden AGENDA Could ‘fragment the West’
Along with Cantrell, Macron and his wife met Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, who has expressed interest in running for governor of the Pelican State in 2023.
The French Quarter tour continued on foot down Royal Street to the Historic New Orleans Collection, where Macron met with Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards.
French President Emmanuel Macron pictured with controversial New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell in the French Quarter during a diplomatic tour, December 2022.
(Fox News Digital)
Edwards is scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding on climate change after Louisiana accounted for more than half of America’s liquefied natural gas exports in 2021. Louisiana’s 14 refineries also account for just under a fifth of the refining capacity of America, according to US Energy. Information management.
France is no stranger to energy shortages in 2022. Russian natural gas accounted for about 17% of France’s supply before the ongoing war in Ukraine stopped.
HERE’S WHAT’S ON THE MENU FOR BIDEN’S FIRST WHITE HOUSE STATE DINNER FOR FRENCH PRESIDENT MACRON
Guerrilla climate change activists have made headlines in France and Europe recently for protesting energy use by defacing classical works of art. French artist Claude Monet’s “Haystacks” was doused with mashed potatoes by German climate change activists in October.
Some of the colorful crowd of well-wishers hoping to see French President Emmanuel Macron during his diplomatic tour in the French Quarter in New Orleans, December 2022.
(Fox News Digital)
Macron himself recently criticized US gas exporters, saying at a press conference in Brussels in October that “The North American economy makes choices for the sake of attractiveness, which I respect, but it creates a double standard.”
US gas exports to France have more than quadrupled in the past calendar year, and Louisiana’s own supply is sure to be a topic of discussion among leaders. While gas exports have increased, so have prices.
Antique shop Brass Monkey is one of several businesses in the French Quarter that have decorated their windows ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s visit.
(Fox News Digital)
Meanwhile, New Orleans spared no expense to host the president and first lady of France. Many businesses in the French Quarter have decked themselves out in “bleu, blanc, et rouge” in anticipation of their arrival.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Macron’s itinerary continues in the evening with an address on shared francophone heritage at the Museum of Modern Art in New Orleans and then a dinner with local film and music personalities at the elegant Windsor Court Hotel’s Grill Room.