Macron to send Trump replacement friendship tree Published duration 12 June 2019

image copyright Reuters image caption The tree was designed to celebrate the special relationship between the US and France

French President Emmanuel Macron says he will send US leader Donald Trump a new "friendship tree" after the original died.

The two men planted the oak sapling in the White House grounds last year. It was designed to celebrate the special relationship between the US and France.

It died in quarantine after being dug up.

Responding to social media posts, Mr Macron said people should not read symbols into everything.

He told Swiss public broadcaster RTS: "We will send him another, it is not a tragedy. It turns out that this oak was put in quarantine for American sanitary reasons and the poor thing did not survive.

"I'll send another oak because I think the US Marines and the friendship for freedom between our peoples is well worth it."

The tree was brought over from Belleau Wood in France, where about 2,000 American servicemen died during World War One.

During the planting ceremony, Mr Macron described the tree as a reminder of the "ties that bind us".

It was put into quarantine to prevent the possibility of parasites spreading to other trees in the White House grounds.

At the time, Gerard Araud, French ambassador to the US, said the tree would be replanted following its time in quarantine.

media caption Trump and Macron's touching moments

The news of the tree's death was described as "political satire" on Twitter, while others said it was symbolic of the pair's relationship.

The two leaders have recently disagreed on approaches to trade and a nuclear deal with Iran.