When President Trump visited France in July there were virtually no protests and zero arrests.
The French are past-masters at protest and rioting, and the American President has his fair share of enemies there – especially after he ripped up the Paris climate accord.
But he was greeted with politeness and enthusiasm during the two-day state visit.
Newly-elected French president Emmanuel Macron – who is politically centre-left – feted Mr Trump declaring ‘nothing will ever separate us’.
French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump shake hands during their meeting at the Elysee Palace in July this year
He went to extraordinary lengths to impress the US President by turning Bastille Day – a day of national pride – into a celebration of American patriotism and friendship between the two countries.
The two leaders watched a spectacular parade featuring American troops and US Air Force jets.
For nearly two hours, every uniformed element of the French state went marching down the Champs-Elysees to Place de la Concorde in their thousands.
There were tanks, missile launchers, Napoleonic cavalry units, armoured cars, fire engines and motorbikes along with two entirely separate flypasts – one fixed wing, one for helicopters – and many bands.
Mr Trump was on his feet clapping every last contingent, including prison officers, the police cadets and even a unit of French customs officers.
The US President showered his hosts with compliments about the people, food, architecture and France’s historic – and revolutionary – ties to America.
Mr Macron his wife Brigitte Macron, Mr Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pose with French chef Alain Ducasse as they attend a dinner at Le Jules Verne Restaurant on the Eiffel Tower
At the end of the visit, the two leaders’ handshake lasted a full 29 seconds.
On his way home aboard Air Force One, Mr Trump said: ‘America and France will never be defeated or divided.’
Paris police reported no arrests, and the only discernible protest had been a small anti-Trump rally on the other side of Paris.