Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, for a photo opportunity ahead of a bilateral meeting.  Below are their remarks:

Speaker Pelosi.  Good afternoon, everyone.  It is really a joy to once again welcome President Macron to the Capitol of the United States.  As many of you may recall, in ‘19 – excuse me, 2018, Mr. President honored us with his presence, demonstrated great wisdom about our global responsibilities as he addressed a Joint Session of Congress.  It is my honor once again to welcome him to the Capitol.  We have talked at lunch about the long and great friendship between the United States – one of our oldest and best friends in world.  We talked about Thomas Jefferson – you did – about Benjamin Franklin, Founders of our country.  

You might know that, as I mentioned, when we were together in 2018, Mr. President, in the Chamber of the House of Representatives, the People's House, we have two massive paintings, just two.  One is of our patriarch, George Washington.  The other is of the Marquis de Lafayette.  All these years, a manifestation of the respect and gratitude that we have to the people of France.  And it is a daily reminder to all the Members of that important relationship.  

So I thank you for your great leadership.  We talked about our history, but you're about the future.  Thank you for your great leadership, the resounding call to action that you gave at COP27 in Egypt, for your holding the line and getting great guidance when it comes to Putin's disgraceful invasion of Ukraine.  

So we look forward to continuing to work together for greater prosperity for all countries, for global security, for protecting democracy, again, and saving the planet.  We have great work to do.  We have great respect for the leadership of President Macron.  And it's a great honor to, once again, welcome him to the Capitol of the United States.  Mr. President.

President Macron.  Thank you very much, Ms. Speaker, for this word.  And Nancy, I'm extremely happy and in awe to be here with you.  

Today, more than four years after my first visit, and this privilege to address and speak with Congress, and I will have the opportunity now to discuss with bipartisan caucus to precisely address a lot of issues.  I want first to thank you for your words and tell you how much we consider that the relationship between the United States of America and France is absolutely important, first of all, for peace.  Together, we work very hard in order to help Ukraine.  After the aggression from Russia, we work very hard in order to address the direct and indirect consequences of this war regarding food security and energy.  And together, we work very hard when health or climate are at stake.  And this partnership and friendship is, for us, absolutely essential.  

And let me, let me say a few more personal words.  As you decided to open a new page of your life, I wanted to pay tribute to your wonderful leadership and your role here as Speaker of the House.  I think during these years, you were not just a Speaker of the House in this democracy, but you were a great defender of our democratic values.  I mean, advocating the respect of elections, defending these values, in real time, with real words and concrete actions.  And I have, I have to say as a special thought for your husband, was a direct victim of the craziness of our times.  And I want to tell both of you that what you did during this year, the fight you had, the courage you have, is essential to all of us.  Thank you very much for that.

Speaker Pelosi.  Thank you so much, Mr. President.

As the president indicated, we’ll now have a bipartisan, bicameral – House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans – leadership meeting that everyone is looking forward to having: exchange ideas, learn from, and again, salute the leadership of President Macron.

Thank you so much.