Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in the US

Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, dine at the Central Park Boathouse Restaurant in New York City
Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

The couple leave their Manhattan hotel to attend an event at Columbia University
Photograph: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

Sarkozy and his wife arrive to address a world leaders' forum at Columbia University
Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

The couple sit in the audience at Columbia University where he will deliver a speech to students
Photograph: Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images

Sarkozy addresses the audience during a world leaders' forum
Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Bruni-Sarkozy visits a music classroom at Julliard school in New York
Photograph: Eric Feferberg/Reuters

Bruni-Sarkozy at the Julliard school
Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

Bruni-Sarkozy visits a KIPP school (Knowledge is Power Programme) in Washington, DC. The schools are for underprivileged pupils
Photograph: Jacques Witt/AP

Bruni-Sarkozy at the KIPP school
Photograph: Jacques Witt/AP

Bruni-Sarkozy talks with a KIPP school pupil
Photograph: Jacques Witt/AFP/Getty Images

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, speaks to the media with Sarkozy after their meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC
Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Sarkozy meets US senator, John Kerry, with the French economy, industry and employment minister, Christine Lagarde, left, in Washington
Photograph: Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images

Sarkozy and his wife at Ben's Chili Bowl restaurant in Washington, DC
Photograph: Benjamin J Myers/Reuters

Sarkozy and US president, Barack Obama, run up the steps to the stage to hold a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC
Photograph: Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images

Sarkozy and Obama hold a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House
Photograph: Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images