Biden and Macron put on show of detente over economic tensions trends now

Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron tried to paint over their economic tensions on Thursday even as the American president refused to apologize for his plan that his French counterpart has called a threat to Europe.

In a private meeting in the Oval Office, the two leaders went head-to-head over Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and the climate subsidies that Macron says will kill jobs.

Afterward, Biden defended his plan to revive America's economy, which includes $368 billion to fund green technology for U.S. manufacturers.

'I make no apology' for it,' he said. 

But, in an effort to ease tensions, he conceded his landmark legislation has 'glitches' that need to be fixed in order not to harm Europe. 

'There's obviously going to be glitches in it and [we] need to reconcile changes in it,' he admitted without going into detail about what those might be.

He described them as 'tweaks that we can make that can fundamentally make it easier for European countries to participate.'

Both leaders agreed to continue discussing the matter on a staff level. And, during a joint press conference at the White House, both Biden and Macron tried to spin an issue at has been an underlying tension during what is supposed to be a friendly visit.

Macron surprised some officials when he threw a diplomatic hardball at the American president shortly after coming to the U.S. shores, warning Biden the IRA, as the Inflation Reduction Act as known, would cost France 'a lot of jobs.' He urged Biden to 'fix it.'

But, in public comments at the White House, standing next to Biden in the ornate East Room, Macron sounded a more conciliatory note.

'France simply did not come to ask for an exemption for our economy but simply to discuss the consequences of this legislation,' he said.

'The wish of president Biden is to be building a strong industry here and to secure some technology solutions for the future. France wishes exactly the same thing for itself,' the French President added. 'We want to succeed together, not one against the other.' 

Biden also argued his legislation was necessary due to the economic downturn that came after the COVID pandemic but said, now that inflation has started to drop, tweaks can be made. 

'It was never intended when I wrote the legislation, I never intended to exclude folks who were cooperating with us. That was not the intention,' he said. 

'My point is we're back in business. Europe is back in business. And we're going to continue to create manufacturing jobs in America but not at the expense of Europe,' he added.

It remains to be seen if his words will placate Macron and other European leaders, who are worried about the economic fallout.

Earlier Macron even warned the American president the issue could 'split the West' - an ominous warning as Biden tries to hold allies together in support of Ukraine as it fends off Russia's invasion. 

Biden and Macron's relationship got off to a rocky start. At one point, Macron briefly recalled France's ambassador to the United States  after the White House announced a deal to sell nuclear submarines to Australia, undermining a French contract.

But the relationship has mended and Macron has been one of Biden's staunchest allies in the response to Russia's invasion of the Ukraine.

In his welcoming remarks to the White House on Thursday, Biden referred to their partnership.

'As allies in NATO, together with our European union and the G7 and partners around the world, France and the United States are facing down Vladimir Putin's grasping ambition for conquest and Russia's brutal war against Ukraine, which has once more shattered peace on the continent of Europe,' he said.

Macron responded in kind.

'I'm happy and honored to be here for the first state visit of your administration,' he noted.