President Donald Trump should have invited Democrats and the media to the state dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron, Republican Sen. John Kennedy told CNN's "New Day" on Tuesday.
Although he conceded that Trump has the right to choose his own management style, the Louisiana senator said, "I think it would have sent a better message, just my opinion, if we included a cross-section of Congress. You can't include everybody, but that's Democrats, independents and Republicans."
Kennedy, who was one of four congressmen invited to the state dinner, also said that a more significant media presence at the event would have helped highlight the gratitude France deserves from the U.S. for helping in the attack on Syria.
"It's about learning from President Macron and thanking him," Kennedy said. "I want to thank him for standing with us in Syria. I want to thank him, the French people through the president, for selling us Louisiana to the United States in 1803."
For state dinners, the president usually invites members of the congressional leadership from both parties or at least a few prominent figures within the opposing party, along with some press, according to The Washington Times.
For example, The Hill pointed out, then-President Barack Obama featured congressmen from both parties during the last state dinner for a French president, when he hosted François Hollande.
Kennedy emphasized that France can be helpful to the U.S. achieving its goals in Syria and Iran and for the best way to deal with China and Russia.
The senator also pointed out that the U.S. should try to help Macron out with his reforms both in France and the European Union.
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