Trump wipes dandruff off Macron, calls him 'perfect'

President Donald Trump on Tuesday made a show of flicking dandruff off the suit collar of French President Emmanuel Macron, saying the leader was "perfect" and the gesture a sign of the two leaders' "very special relationship".

Trump made the suprise move as a beaming Macron stood at his side for a photo opportunity in the Oval Office.

Macron is the first foreign leader to be honoured with a state visit since Trump took office more than one year ago. The French leader has been frequently referred to as the "Trump whisperer" for forging close ties and regularly calling the US president who remains unpopular across large sections of the globe.

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"We have a very special relationship, in fact I'll get that little piece of dandruff off ... We have to make him perfect, he is perfect," Trump said to a laughing Macron.

The Iran nuclear deal and US-European trade have dominated the agenda of Macron's three-day US visit that began on Monday. 

Biting trade sanctions on European steel and aluminum will enter into force on May 1 unless Trump agrees to sign a waiver. If he refuses, there are fears of a fully fledged trade war.

Meanwhile, France and other European nations are battling to save a complex nuclear deal with Iran, which Trump will scuttle if he refuses to waive sanctions against Tehran by a May 12 deadline.

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Macron said he will urge Trump to stick to the deal because there is "no Plan B". 

On Tuesday night, Macron and Trump, along with about 150 guests, are expected to dine on rack of lamb and nectarine tart and enjoy an after-dinner performance by the Washington National Opera.

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