French media press: How much did hosting Trump at Versailles cost taxpayers?
France – French President Macron hosted Trump at the Palace of Versailles. Media outlets such as Le Figaro and Capital are now questioning: How much did this dinner cost taxpayers? However, during an interview with TV1 while preparing for the G7 summit, Macron repeatedly emphasized that the primary purpose was not to stage a lavish banquet.
Macron explained that Versailles is not only a symbol of French diplomacy and royal power, but also the endpoint of the American Revolutionary War. Therefore, framing the event as "celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence" is not entirely inaccurate. Another diplomatic calculation behind Macron’s move was to use the dazzling grandeur of Versailles to keep the U.S. president engaged—avoiding a repeat of the awkward incident last year when Trump abruptly left the G7 summit in Canada.
When French media questioned the cost of this dinner, they could only estimate based on past standards for hosting foreign heads of state. Le Figaro wrote: It's well known that Trump enjoys luxury, and Macron knows this too. In an era when transatlantic relations are no longer stable, where else could be more fitting than Louis XIV’s castle, complete with 357 mirrors and French gardens, to entice a temperamental, status-conscious U.S. president known for his love of pomp and prestige?
The "Taxpayers' Association" published an article stating that hosting this dinner at the Palace of Versailles required top-tier security measures. There is no task more difficult in the world than protecting Trump. In addition to deploying Secret Service personnel, there were police and gendarmes, anti-drone systems, intelligence units, restricted access routes, and various restrictions imposed on the palace itself.
These expenses typically do not appear in the accounts of the Elysée Palace, as they are shared across multiple government departments. Nevertheless, the costs are ultimately borne by taxpayers. A conservative estimate places the additional security expenses between €100,000 and €300,000.
Capital magazine published an article stating that we can estimate the cost of this dinner based on previous hospitality standards. A document released by the French Court of Auditors in 2024 detailed the expenses of the presidential residence in 2023—the year King Charles III visited France. According to reports, just the catering fees and the wages for Michelin-starred chefs (such as Anne-Sophie Pic and Yannick Alléno) amounted to €475,000.
The 2023 bill showed expenses of €100,000 for staff, temporary workers, and additional personnel; €90,000 for equipment and furniture rentals; and €42,000 for beverages, wine, and spirits. Donald Trump likely enjoyed the same level of treatment on the evening of the 17th as King Charles III did.
According to Closer, the cost of meals hosted by the Elysée Palace for other foreign heads of state usually ranges from €90,000 to €555,000. As reported by Le Figaro, the recent state dinner hosted by the French president for Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani reportedly cost €90,000.
A year ago, the dinner held at the Louvre for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly cost €412,000. Finally, Macron’s dinner for British King Charles III at Versailles is estimated to have cost €555,000. Thus, if hosting Trump at the same location under similar conditions incurred comparable expenses, the cost would likely fall between €200,000 and €500,000.
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1868561778295875/
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