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Donald J. Trump is planning to visit Paris for the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral. This will be his first international trip since the election last month, indicating a shift in focus from the Biden administration to other global leaders.
Authored by Maggie Haberman
Experienced journalist reporting
President-elect Donald J. Trump is set to visit France on Saturday to attend the reopening of the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was damaged by a fire five years ago. This trip will be his initial international visit since the election last month, indicating a shift in focus away from the Biden administration by global leaders.
Donald Trump shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he will be visiting the iconic Notre Dame building. He expressed gratitude towards President Macron of France for overseeing the restoration of Notre Dame to its former glory.
He penned that it would be a day that holds significance for everyone.
The upcoming trip has been in the planning stages for a few days, as informed by individuals familiar with the situation. One of the sources mentioned that Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron have had a phone discussion at least once.
It is anticipated that President Biden will not be present at the reopening event, but Dr. Jill Biden, the first lady, is expected to attend, as reported by a source familiar with the situation.
Since winning a second term by defeating Vice President Kamala Harris, who took President Biden’s place on the Democratic ticket, Mr. Trump has spent most of his time at Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
The announcement of the trip was somewhat expected. Mr. Trump has a fondness for elaborate ceremonies and grand construction sites, particularly those with historical significance. This trip also signifies his reemergence on the international platform.
However, it is also the most recent development in a tense relationship with European allies, especially with Mr. Macron.
The President of France, who is dealing with unrest within his own country due to opposition from both the far-right and far-left, praised President Trump at the beginning of Trump’s presidency. Macron invited Trump to join in France’s Bastille Day festivities in 2017, and Trump accepted the invitation enthusiastically.
The relationship turned bad in 2018, when President Macron supported the concept of a genuine European military defense that could stand up to Russia, China, and even the United States. This clashed with President Trump’s nationalist views, especially as far-right populist leaders aligned with Trump were gaining power in France and other parts of Europe.
In August 2022, the FBI conducted a search at Mar-a-Lago looking for confidential documents. During the search, federal agents seized information that was connected to Mr. Macron.
As a senior political correspondent, Maggie Haberman covers the 2024 presidential campaign, as well as other political races at various levels of government and the ongoing investigations involving former President Donald J. Trump. To learn more about Maggie Haberman, visit her profile.
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