President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to visit France this weekend to participate in the re-opening ceremony of the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral. This event will mark his first foreign trip since winning the election last month.
Trump confirmed his attendance at the celebratory event through his social media platform, Truth Social. The cathedral, which suffered a devastating fire in 2019, underwent a 700-million-euro restoration project funded by donations from 150 countries. The restoration work involved the use of traditional carpentry techniques dating back to the 13th century.
French President Emmanuel Macron extended the invitation to Trump, who will be among approximately 50 heads of state attending the invite-only ceremony. Notably, President Joe Biden is not expected to be present, but first lady Jill Biden will be in attendance.
Security measures for the event will be stringent, with Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez comparing them to those implemented during the Paris Olympics. The relationship between Macron and Trump, which has seen its share of ups and downs, is expected to continue building as Trump enters his second non-consecutive term.
Despite past disagreements, Macron has displayed a level of respect towards Trump, with whom he shares a history of participating in joint events like the Bastille Day military parade in Paris. Trump's stance on NATO funding and alliances has been a point of contention with other leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
World leaders appear to be recognizing the importance of maintaining positive relations with Trump, as evidenced by recent interactions with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump's visit to France coincides with Macron's efforts to stabilize his government amid internal challenges.
