First Lady Pool Reports of June 8, 2024

FLOTUS pool report - spouse event
Paris, France
June 8, 2024

Spousal lunch and tour

Jill Biden and Brigitte Macron split off from their spouses after the official welcome ceremony for lunch and a tour at the Foundation Louis Vuitton.

FLOTUS did not respond to questions from pool (see details below) but was energetic throughout the tour, laughing with Madame Macron and asking questions about the exhibit.

Note: FLOTUS arrived in Paris about 6 am local time this morning per the East Wing.

Details of the event:

FLOTUS motorcade left the Elysee Palace at 1:37 pm, shortly after the official arrival ceremony, and headed for the Foundation Louis Vuitton.

The route took the motorcade down the Champs Elyees, past the Arc de Triomphe, which still had the remains of the welcome parade.

Motorcade arrived at the Foundation Louis Vuitton at 1:49 pm where Dr. Biden and Madame Macron viewed American artist and World War II veteran Ellsworth Kelly's art exhibit. Kelly is known for his hard-edge minimalist paintings and his use of color.

Madame Macron - who was in the same motorcade but a different car - was out first to greet Dr. Biden.

They chatted outside for a few minutes before heading inside.

The two had lunch in a private room at the museum together before viewing the exhibit (lunch was closed press).

Their lunch lasted about 90 minutes and the two First Ladies started viewing the exhibit at 3:24 pm.

The building was open to the public as Biden and Macron viewed the paintings.

But a large group of aides and security surrounded them, clearing a path for them to walk through the exhibit and keeping the path clear of the public.

They were given a tour by Mr. Esteban Neveu - who told them about the history of the artist and his work. The guide spoke in English.

The two women listened and asked questions: Dr Biden asked about the paintings names and Madame Macron asked about the artist use of color.

The two were looking at "Color Panels on a Large Wall" - which was blocks of single color paintings arranged as a collage on the wall - when Dr. Biden asked Madame Macron her favorite one.

"Blue," she said, asking Dr. Biden hers.

"Blue," Dr. Biden said.

They both laughed. Then they held hands as they walked to look at the next paintings.

The exhibit made up about half dozen rooms. They walked through all of them as part of the tour, listening to Neveu talk about the art.

"It has a lot of energy," FLOTUS said of one painting that was shades of green.

They ended the tour in a room with a giant rainbow painting that took up most of the wall.

After hearing about it from the guide, they walked up to have their picture taken in front of it.

The floor had rivets between the hard wood.

"Watch the heels," Dr. Biden told Madame Macron as they got into position.

As pooler joined the official photographers in taking a photo of them, FLOTUS commented "you're all so quiet."

So pooler asked how she was holding up after her flights. FLOTUS didn't respond. Pooler was told it was time to go.

Madame Macron escorted Dr. Biden out of the museum. They hugged and exchanged a kiss on each cheek.

They separated with Madame Macron going back in the museum and Dr. Biden getting in her car. At 3:55 pm the motorcade was rolling.

Motorcade arrived back at the RON at 4:06 pm.

Note - as there were no stills in the pool, pooler will tweet some photos of the First Ladies on tour.