Jill Biden met France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron at the Élysée Palace yesterday after traveling to Paris with her daughter Ashley while President Biden remains in the United States.
Dr. Biden took her 42-year-old daughter to France, where she spoke today at a ceremony to mark the United States’ return to UNESCO after a five-year absence under the Trump presidency.
Before the raising of the American flag and Dr. Biden’s speech to the world heritage agency this afternoon, the mother and daughter visited the presidential palace.
The trio looked relaxed and appropriately patriotic, together wearing the colors of the Tricolor and the United States flag as they posed for photos on the palace steps.
The two first ladies, who have both worked as teachers, shared a friendly reunion as Ms Macron welcomed her counterpart to the official residence with a kiss on the cheeks.
US First Lady Jill Biden, French First Lady Brigitte Macron and the Bidens’ daughter Ashley Biden pose for photographers as they meet at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris.
Ms Macron welcomed her counterpart to the official residence by kissing her on the cheeks.
The trio looked comfortable and appropriately patriotic, together donning the colors of the tricolor and the American flag as they posed for photos on the palace steps.
The women have met several times in the past two years, including in Washington last December when Macron was on a state visit to the US.
During their last meeting, Dr. Biden said she and Emmanuel Macron’s wife “instantly, you know, they knew we liked each other” when they first met.
Ms Macron returned the warm gesture, describing them as “friends” and holding Dr Biden’s hand.
During Ms. Macron’s first visit to the United States since the start of the Biden presidency, she read a paper, in English, and thanked the American first lady.
Returning the favor by hosting Dr. Biden and Ashley, the group seemed in good spirits as they spent part of the busy day together.
Ashley has previously worked as a fashion and social worker, and now often accompanies her mother on official occasions.
However, she previously told Elle magazine that becoming First Daughter did not come naturally to her.
“It took me about two years to get used to being in this position,” he told Elle. magazine.
“I’m doing my job like I always have, but figuring out the role of First Daughter, and how I can use it in the most positive way, where it’s not about me, it’s about the American people.
First Lady Jill Biden, left, shakes hands with UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
US First Lady Jill Biden speaks during a flag-raising ceremony for the return of the United States to UNESCO after an absence of more than half a decade.
“And what I learned is that I want to tell the story of others, I want to build organizations and share this information.”
Speaking of her ambassadorial visit to UNSESCO headquarters today, a Biden spokesperson said: ‘The First Lady, as a lifelong educator and believer in the power of educational opportunity around the world, is honored to help celebrate this important milestone.
“She looks forward to raising the flag of the United States once again at UNESCO headquarters, showing our country’s commitment to international cooperation in education, science and culture.”
Senior Biden administration officials said returning to UNESCO is in line with President Joe Biden’s goal of strengthening global partnerships and re-engaging with American leadership at the UN and other international organizations to counter nations that do not share American values.
First Lady Jill Biden, left, and UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay attend a ceremony at UNESCO headquarters.
Others said Dr. Biden, who teaches English and writing at a Virginia community college, was best suited to represent America in Paris on Tuesday.
Before returning to Washington on Wednesday, Dr. Biden will tour a historic site in France, Mont-Saint-Michel, a 1,000-year-old Benedictine abbey that was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1979. It is located on an island in Normandy in the north of the country.
The daughter and mother of U.S. service members, the first lady will also visit the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial to pay respects to the more than 4,400 U.S. service members buried there, most of whom died in Normandy and Brittany during World War II.
