Tree planted by Trump and Macron to symbolize French-American friendship has died

WASHINGTON — No friendship lasts forever. And neither do trees.  

According to French media reports, a tree planted last year by French President Emmanuel Macron and President Donald Trump to symbolize 100 years of French and American friendship has died. 

A year ago, the two leaders took part in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., where they took turns shoveling dirt on top of the sapling. “This oak tree…will be a reminder at the White House of these ties that bind us,” wrote Macron at the time on Twitter. 

Even the tree itself was symbolic — the sapling was harvested from Belleau Wood, the French site of one of the bloodiest battles in World War I for American forces. 

100 years ago, American soldiers fought in France, in Belleau to defend our freedom. This oak tree (my gift to @realDonaldTrump) will be a reminder at the White House of these ties that bind us. pic.twitter.com/AUdVncaKRN

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 24, 2018

The tree was removed by American authorities a few days after it was planted to be placed in quarantine like any other agricultural import to the United States. Gerard Araud, the French ambassador to the United States, took to Twitter to reassure people that the tree “will be replanted afterwards.”

The relationship between the two countries has since been strained by tensions over Iran nuclear policy, international security commitments and the resurgence of nationalist forces in Europe. 

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in a tree planting ceremony with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 23, 2018.

The tree comes from Belleau Woods, where, in June 1918, some 9,000 US Marines died in the Belleau Wood battle during World War I. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSONJIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1497JE (Photo: JIM WATSON, AFP/Getty Images)

One year later, though, according to French media outlet Le Monde, the tree will not, in fact, be replanted. French newspaper Le Figaro later confirmed the news. The tree reportedly has died in quarantine, never to return to the White House lawn. 

More: Like what you’re reading? Download the USA TODAY app for more

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2019/06/10/tree-planted-donald-trump-and-emmanuel-macron-has-died/1406651001/

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.