A night of dinner and diplomacy for presidents Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron. The French president is on a three-day state visit to the US. Macron is the first foreign leader to receive such an honor from the Trump administration. But behind the pomp and ceremony, there are deep divisions on some major global issues. CGTN's White House correspondent Nathan King reports.

Of all the world leaders President Macron is known to have one of the closest relationships with US President Trump. Trump was feted in Paris last July-guest of honor at the Bastille Day military parade, a sunset dinner at the Eiffel tower. And then there was that epic 30-second handshake, too. The French President has tried to bond with Trump while others in Europe have kept their distance.

EMMANUEL MACRON FRENCH PRESIDENT "We are very happy and honored to be here with my wife Brigitte at the invitation of president Trump and Melania."

But what has President Macron got out of his relationship? Not very much.

The U.S. President unilaterally withdrew from the Paris Climate agreement-a snub to French diplomacy and France's commitment to the environment.

And, as this visit gets underway, the U.S. is just three weeks away from potentially pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal-inked with France other European powers plus China and Russia. This agreement limited Iran's nuclear activity and avoided a potential military clash.

On the eve of his state visit, President Macron urged the US President to reconsider.

EMMANUEL MACRON FRENCH PRESIDENT "What do you have as a better option I don't see it. What is the 'what if scenario,' or your Plan B I don't have a Plan B for nuclear against Iran. So that's a question we'll discuss. But that's why I just want to say, on nuclear, let's process this framework because it's better than a sort of North Korean type of situation."

For months U.S. diplomats have been pushing European allies to agree to a side agreement on Iran, which would criticize Iran's behavior in the Middle East and address Tehran's ballistic missile program and other issues not covered by the nuclear deal.

But there is no guarantee the U.S. president would even accept that. The White House says: "don't expect a breakthrough during this trip".

On Syria, France joined the U.S. and UK in the recent strikes against Syria in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack. But Trump says he wants to pull U.S. troops out of Syria now that ISIL is largely defeated.

On trade - the U.S. has exempted, temporarily, the European Union from steel and aluminum tariffs, but the threat of U.S. tariffs has created a hostile environment in Europe. Meanwhile, the U.S. wants European help in pressuring China over market access and technology transfers.

Macron also has domestic problems, too. His popularity is plummeting in a France wracked by strikes and resistance to unpopular reforms-appearing too close to an unpopular U.S. president without getting anything in return could damage him further.

NATHAN KING WHITE HOUSE Emmanuel Macron's state visit here this week will be followed by a visit by Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor. She shares many of President Macron's concerns over U.S. policies, but has a frostier relationship with the U.S. President than Macron does. This week may be starting with an expression of warmth and friendship, but it could easily end with Washington and key European allies further divided. Nathan King, CGTN, The White House.