After congratulating Biden, France's Macron sees Trump envoy

French President Emmanuel Macron faced potentially uncomfortable position Monday of meeting U.S. President Donald Trump's top diplomat, having already congratulated President-elect Joe Biden for his election victory.

Neir side said much in advance about U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's low-profile visit to Paris, starting point of a seven-country tour of Europe and Middle East.

Macron's office described Pompeo's planned stop Monday at presidential Elysee Palace as a “courtesy” visit. press conference was scheduled, seemingly ruling out likelihood of journalists getting to ask Pompeo or Macron about ir conflicting visions of U.S. election outcome.

Pompeo has t accepted Trump's election defeat. Macron has already spoken by phone with Biden to congratulate him.

Pompeo's trip is aimed at shoring up priorities of Trump's outgoing administration. From Paris, he was expected to travel to Turkey. trip will also include visits to Israeli settlements in West Bank that have been avoided by previous secretaries of state.

Before scheduled meetings with Macron and his foreign minister, Pompeo laid a bouquet of red, white and blue flowers at a memorial to victims of terrorism at a Paris landmark, Hotel des Invalides.

ceremony lasted about a minute.