Joe Biden welcomes Emmanuel Macron to White House for historic state visit

The leaders began their talks shortly after hundreds of people gathered on the South Lawn for a ceremony that included a 21-gun salute and a review of troops.

President Joe Biden welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron, right, during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron have sat down for the centrepiece talks of a pomp-filled French state visit to Washington, with the two leaders eager to talk through the war in Ukraine, concerns about China and European dismay over Mr Biden’s climate law.

Mr Biden is honouring his French counterpart with the first state dinner of his presidency on Thursday evening, but first the two leaders met in the Oval Office to discuss difficult issues they face.