Our special relationship with France

President Macron's speech to the Congress today was well received.  The pundits rang out about our special relationship with France.  Perhaps that could have explained its basis, even if only to inform the Trumpster.

Working backward in time -
It was on French shores that our valiant men-in-arms landed on D-Day.  From there they advanced to free France from Nazi oppression, and liberate Paris - the City of Light.  France then became our partner in the rebuilding of Europe and holding off Stalin's forces from more conquest.

France developed and still possesses nuclear weapons, an independent force de frappe, that was part of the nuclear shield in the Cold War.

In April 1917, the US joined France in the fight against Germany and the Central Powers.  When the Russian Revolution took Russia out of the war, Germany transferred hundreds of thousands of soldiers to the West and prepared for a final, crushing assault on France.  Americans joined the Brits and French in defeating the Germans.

The American revolution would likely have come to a different end if not for France's aid, thanks in great part to Lafayette.  Soldiers, weapons, ships, money - all flowed to the rebels to defeat Great Britain in our animating contest for freedom and independence.  It is for this reason that US Gen Pershing, upon landing in France with US soldiers in 1918, proclaimed "Lafayette, we are here!"

There is much more than this, and Pres. Macron expressed our common goals and principles well.