PUTIN DIFFERENCES ASIDE
VLADIMIR Putin gave President Trump a thumbs up as the pair gathered with other leaders to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One.
Ten thousand police officers are on standby in Paris today to defend politicians as they pay their respects to all those who died in the horrific conflict.
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The US and Russian Presidents have joined France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Angela Merkel at the Arc de Triomphe for a special service marking one hundred years since guns fell silent across Europe.
The two world leaders patted each other as the smiled and exchanged a warm handshake.
Presidents and other dignitaries left the French presidential palace in buses, just a few minutes before the ceremony was supposed to begin.
But President Trump headed separately to the memorial for security reasons, as did Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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The US President and First Lady Melania sheltered from the rain under umbrellas as they arrived at the ceremony.
On their lapels, Trump and Melania appeared to wear the Bluet de France, the French poppy to commemorate the veterans of World War One.
The Trumps then greeted Emanuel Macron and wife Brigitte as well as the German Chancellor Angela Merkel with stoic handshakes.
The US President's attendance comes just one day after he dropped out of attending the Remembrance Day visit to Aisne-Marne American Cemetery as the White House claimed the weather had created "logistical difficulties" with the Marine One helicopter.
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Trump is among dozens of leaders attending the centennial anniversary ceremony as more than 66 leaders gathered in Paris a century after guns fell silent in World War One.
First Lady Melania Trump accompanied her husband at the Tome of the Unknown Soldier and was dressed in a belted grey dress and black heels as she draped a long grey coat over her shoulders.
During the ceremony in Paris, young people have been reading letters from combatants in French, English and Chinese as dignitaries and others listen.
Also in attendance at the ceremony was Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar who tweeted this morning to say he would "stand in memory of the Irishmen who died" during the war.
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He said: "I’m in Paris this morning for the Armistice Day Commemoration at the Arc de Triomphe.
"I will stand in memory of the more than 200,000 Irishmen who fought in WW1 and the many Irishwomen who witnessed the horrors of war and worked courageously to save lives. "
Earlier this morning, French President Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel were pictured walking side by side as they led the dignitaries from the Elysee Palace.
As they led the world leaders on the walk to the Arc de Triomphe, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined Macron and Merkel.
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In a speech during the ceremony Macron warned against the dangers of nationalism in a speech aimed directly at the rising tide of populism in the United States and Europe.
Macron said the "ancient demons" that caused World War I and millions of deaths are growing stronger.
"Patriotism is the opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is treason, if we think our interest may only come first and we don't care for others, it is a treason of our values. A betrayal of all moral values, we must remember this.
"It is those values and virtues that motivated those who sacrificed all to defend democracy... It is those values and those virtues that gave them strength because it guided their heart.
"The lessons of the Great War cannot be of vengeance nor forgetting the past. We must think of the future and preserve that which is essential."
French president Emmanuel Macron rallies against 'ancient demon' nationalism in US and Europe - as 'nationalist' Trump looks on during Paris ceremony
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Donald Trump hits out at Emmanuel Macron's 'very insulting' call for EU army
The comments could add to frosty relations between Trump and Macron as the US president has proudly declared himself a nationalist.
During a campaign rally before the Midterms in Texas, he: "They have a word, it sort of became old-fashioned. It’s called a nationalist... And I say, ‘Really? We’re not supposed to use that word, You know what I am? I’m a nationalist. OK? I’m a nationalist."
Trump will also be attending a leaders' lunch for 130 leaders and dignitaries hosted by Emmanuel Macron this afternoon at the Elysee Palace.
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are at the head table near Macron. Other guests at the host's table include Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Spain's King Felipe VI and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
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A protester was taken away by cops as leaders arrived
Topless protester jumps a barricade and runs at US President Donald Trump's motorcade in Paris
The companions of head of states and government were invited to a lunch hosted by France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, at the Palace of Versailles west of Paris. A private concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is set to follow.
Afterwards, Trump plans to visit and deliver Veterans Day remarks at the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial outside Paris where more than 1,500 Americans who died during the war are buried.
The feminist activist group Femen has claimed responsibility for topless protesters who disrupted US President Donald Trump's motorcade on its way to a ceremony commemorating the end of World War I.
One woman easily breached tight security along the Champs-Elysees avenue, walking on the midst of the motorcade and shouting "fake peace maker" as the cars passed.
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Officers seized the topless protester afterwards.
Meanwhile, Theresa May led a separate service in London at the cenotaph, along with Labour boss Jeremy Corbyn.
They joined Prince William and Harry in Westminster and laid their own wreaths of Remembrance, as Prince Charles also laid a wreath on behalf of the Queen.
Mrs May tweeted this morning: "One hundred years after the guns fell silent on the Western Front, each and every one of us can pause to reflect on the immense sacrifices that were made by so many. #ArmisticeDay100".
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