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Donald J. Trump will be present at the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. This will be his initial foreign visit following the election last month, indicating a shift in focus from the Biden presidency for global leaders.
Written by Maggie Haberman
Experienced political journalist
On Saturday, President-elect Donald J. Trump will visit France to attend the reopening of the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was severely damaged by a fire five years ago. This trip marks his first visit to a foreign country since the recent election, highlighting the shift in focus from the Biden administration to the incoming Trump administration among world leaders.
Donald Trump shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he would be visiting the iconic Notre Dame building, expressing gratitude to President Emmanuel Macron for overseeing the restoration efforts and bringing the historic landmark back to its former glory.
He expressed that it would be a day that holds significance for everyone involved.
The trip has been planned for a few days, as shared by sources familiar with the planning. It was mentioned that Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron have communicated over the phone at least once, as per one of the sources.
It is anticipated that President Biden will not be present at the reopening event, but Dr. Jill Biden, the first lady, will be in attendance, as per information from a source briefed on the matter.
Since winning a second term by defeating Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced President Biden on the Democratic ticket, Mr. Trump has been spending most of his time at Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
The announcement of the trip didn’t come as a shock. Mr. Trump has a strong appreciation for ceremonial and grand events, especially when they involve historical construction sites. This trip also signifies his re-emergence on the global platform.
However, this situation 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 at home from extreme political groups, praised President Trump during the early stages of his presidency. Macron extended an invitation for Trump to attend France’s Bastille Day celebration in 2017, and Trump accepted the invitation enthusiastically.
The relationship between Mr. Macron and Mr. Trump turned bad in 2018 when Mr. Macron supported the concept of a European military defense that could stand up to Russia, China, and the United States. This clashed with Mr. Trump’s nationalist views, especially as far-right populists aligned with him were gaining power in France and other parts of Europe.
In August 2022, the FBI conducted a search at Mar-a-Lago looking for classified documents that were hidden. During the search, federal agents seized information from the property that was connected to Mr. Macron.
Maggie Haberman is a seasoned journalist who covers the 2024 presidential campaign, local races, and investigations involving former President Donald J. Trump. She provides in-depth reporting on these topics.
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