Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to Washington was more beneficial for him than it was for his host. He managed to work things in his favor and use his relationship with President Trump as leverage.

France, Germany and the United States are allies and will remain that way for the foreseeable future. In fact, Presidents Trump and Macron have an unusual friendship. Trump had a tense moment with Chancellor Merkel when she visited Washington last year, but has consistently had a bond with Macron.

Ronnie Olesker, professor of government, said that their friendship probably stems from Macron’s people skills. “He has great social skills, he’s a people person, he complemented [Trump] and his wife,” she said about Macron. She added that Macron was also “physically submissive and let himself be groomed by Trump.” Macron’s friendship with Trump allowed him to be more aggressive. “His speech to Congress completely undermined Trump, with a spoonful of sugar,” Olesker said about Macron.

Sarah Phillips ’19 is currently studying abroad in France and said that Macron and Trump might get along because Macron “poses as what we would call a left wing politician, but he is actually more toward middle to slightly right wing.” In addition, French people are fascinated with American pop culture and how “a man who had a tv show and no prior governmental experience could be elected president.”

Phillips also expressed that French people do not necessarily have strong feelings for Trump. “Since Trump is not France’s president and many French people have not been to America, they don’t have strong feelings for or against him. Some believe that he’s a walking disaster thats making a fool out of America while others think that some of his tactics are good,” she said.

Overall, Olesker thinks that the visit was more successful for Europe than it was for Trump. Macron “showed he could play in the big leagues” and used his friendship to “speak to [Trump] the position of European allies,” she said. She also said that the visit was successful for Melania Trump. “She came to her own in the role she wants to play in the White House.” Melania Trump has mostly avoided the spotlight, but Macron’s visit required her to assume a certain role.

For the future, Olesker says things will mostly remain the same. “The first test is the Iran deal,” which President Trump will soon decide whether or not to renew, she said. What Trump decides could have an impact on U.S.-European Union relations, according to Olesker. Another factor is Brexit. Trump’s position on that “could make a cleavage between the United States and Britain and France and Germany,” which potentially could create some problems.

However, the United States’ relationship with Europe will not change much. Olesker said that NATO will remain intact and that both sides’ “interests are still very strongly aligned.” It would take a catastrophic event to dismantle the bond between the United States and Europe.