The Vermont students who were here Wednesday visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial looked nothing short of flabbergasted as French President Emmanuel Macron approached them with Atlanta Congressman John Lewis in tow.
“You can be proud of this guy,” French media captured Macron telling the group as he placed his hand on Lewis’ shoulder. “It’s not just about history books. It’s about real persons (sic) deeply committed … to fight for his rights and preserve his rights. You owe him a lot. ”
Just as stunned by Wednesday afternoon’s events were members of the American press corps, who were not tipped off about the duo’s plans. Ditto for Lewis’ own staff.
The civil rights hero’s afternoon with Macron, it turns out, was entirely off the cuff.
Lewis hadn’t met Macron until that morning, according to the Democrat’s office, when he and several colleagues helped escort the French president into the House chamber ahead of his speech before a joint meeting of Congress.
The two didn’t truly get to talking until a reception hosted by House Speaker Paul Ryan. It was there the lovefest began.
Lewis, 78, presented Macron, 40, with his National Book Award-winning graphic novel "March," which was recently translated into French; his memoir "Walking with the Wind"; and a signed copy of the iconic LIFE Magazine cover that featured him and hundreds of others crossing the Edmund Pettus bridge on Bloody Sunday.
Macron indicated he was familiar with Lewis’ role in the civil rights movement -- he had also referenced the work of figureheads James Baldwin and Richard Wright in his speech to Congress -- and asked for a personal tour of the MLK memorial.
Shortly thereafter, Macron’s staff posted a live Facebook video of the pair discussing the monument’s inscriptions:
The two also dined together near George Washington University for a long lunch ahead of a town hall Macron held with students.
Macron’s fondness for Lewis was apparent in the video posted on Macron’s Facebook page. He grabbed Lewis’ hand as he led him toward the Vermont students and hugged the congressman for no fewer than eight seconds as they said their goodbyes.
Lewis told the assembled French media that Macron fights for many of the same values today that King did during the civil rights movement. And Macron said what Lewis did during that era was “very strong.”
“He’s an example,” he said of Lewis.
The pair’s warmth toward one another drew attention to the starkly different relationships they have with President Donald Trump.
Macron appears to have a genuine connection with his American counterpart, even as he rebuked Trumpism in his speech to Congress. Lewis, meanwhile, has tussled publicly with the president and boycotted several key events where they would have had to share a stage.
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