How a Versailles dinner became the stage for Trump's surprise Iran deal signing

PARIS (AP) — Lobster, caviar — and a surprise signature.

At a glitzy dinner in Versailles hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Donald Trump seized the opportunity to sign an initial deal with Iran.

Guests at Wednesday's late-night dinner were gobsmacked. White House officials had considered a formal signing ceremony on Friday in Switzerland instead.

One of the attendees, French Finance Minister Roland Lescure, described the scene, which capped three days of intense diplomatic talks at a G7 summit.

“The president of the United States thanked everyone for the G7 and for the dinner, and in his speech, said, ‘And by the way, I have a good agreement with Iran, and I’m going to sign it,'” Lescure said on RTL radio.

“We literally saw (U.S. Secretary of State) Marco Rubio leave — I don’t know if he had already printed the memorandum of agreement or went to print it — and come back,” Lescure added. “We cleared the plates.”

Another French official said Rubio received a message about the deal during dinner, at around 11 p.m.

Rubio and French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot left the room to review the memorandum of understanding before bringing the document, in English and Farsi, to Trump for signing, the official said. The official was not authorized to discuss the details with the media, and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“In any case, for us, ministers of the French government, it was a surprise,” Lescure said.

In videos posted on X by Macron and a White House aide, Trump was seen seated at a table signing a paper copy of the agreement. He then handed the document and pen to Rubio as the dinner host, sitting next to him, told him: “Good job. Bravo.”

Officials and guests applauded.

As the U.S. and French leaders left the palace, Trump casually announced to reporters as he was getting into his car: “We signed in Versailles.”

U.S. President Donald Trump is greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron and first lady Brigitte Macron as he arrives at the Palace of Versailles, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Versailles, France. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

U.S. President Donald Trump departs after the dinner at the Palace of Versailles, early Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Versailles, France. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool)

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, receives a tour of Chateau de Versailles from President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a dinner on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 in Versailles, France, after the G7 summit in Evian, France. (Anna Moneymaker/Pool Photo via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Elly De La Cruz hit a two-run double in the third inning of Friday’s game at Toronto, then promptly stole third base on José Soriano’s next pitch to become the fourth Cincinnati player with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season.

“It’s really special,” De La Cruz said after the Reds lost 6-5 to the Blue Jays. “That means a great season. I know, as a group, the season didn’t go the way we wanted it to, but it’s a great season individually.”

The two-time All-Star shortstop hit his 30th home run in Thursday’s 7-6 win at Atlanta.

Cincinnati is 74-86 with two games remaining

“To hit for power and have speed and be able to steal bases like that, it’s a pretty special thing to do, and it’s a great accomplishment,” said Reds assistant bench coach Mike Napoli, who ran the team Friday under manager Terry Francona's supervision.

Eric Davis was the first Reds player with a 30-30 season, hitting 37 homers and stealing 50 bases in 1987. Barry Larkin had 33 homers and 36 steals in 1996, and Brandon Phillips had 30 homers and 32 steals in 2007.

The 24-year-old De La Cruz has nine homers, 19 RBIs and six stolen bases in September.

“He’s still really young,” Napoli said. “He’s still developing, he’s getting better. He’s hungry to get better, You would expect him to be that superstar. He’s gotten better every single year and we expect him to get better.”

De La Cruz also became the first Reds player and eighth big leaguer since 1900 with at least 30 steals in each of his first four seasons. Kansas City’s Bobby Witt also did it from 2022-25.

De La Cruz grounded out in his first at bat Friday, when Soriano made a between-the-legs stop on his 94 mph one-hopper to the mound.

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Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement throws to first base to force out Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)