Macron shows differences with Trump in address to Congress

On Tuesday, they kissed, hugged, held hands and slapped each other's backs.

But on Wednesday, France's President Emmanuel Macron put distance between himself and US President Donald Trump - at least on major policies - in a speech before a joint meeting of Congress in which he never mentioned Trump's name.

The touchy-feely expressions shared between the two men during Macron's three-day state visit to the US - the first foreign leader afforded one by Trump's White House - were put aside in a speech that showed their differences on trade, global warming, the Iran nuclear deal and foreign policy.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump tweeted that he was, "Looking forward to watching President Macron of France address a Joint Session of Congress today. This is a great honor and seldom allowed to be done...he will be GREAT!"

There was no immediate reaction from the White House to Macron's speech.

Macron was given a three-minute standing ovation before he spoke, and his remarks were met with several ovations from both Republicans and Democrats.

In a humorous nod to those embraces with the man he calls "dear Donald", Macron opened by comparing their interactions to those between the French philosopher Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin when they met in Paris in 1778.

"They embraced each other by hugging one another in their arms, and kissing each other's cheeks," he said. "It can remind you of something."

And then came the differences in his 50-minute speech.