Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free
A guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the world.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris reopens on Saturday, marking President Donald Trump’s return to the world stage as Europe prepares for the next administration to take a tougher, more transactional approach to transatlantic relations expressed.
The event, which was attended by about 50 world leaders, comes at a critical moment for Europe as President Trump threatens punitive tariffs and pushes for an early end to the war between Ukraine and Russia.
President Emmanuel Macron is expected to discuss pressing issues at the two-day event, as he appears to be trying to broker a first meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The French president met with President Trump at the Elysée Palace on Saturday afternoon before meeting with President Zelenskiy.
Because Ukraine relies heavily on U.S. weapons to fight Russia, Zelensky has been lobbying Trump not to abandon the cause or force him to accept unfavorable peace terms.
Facilitating informal talks would be a diplomatic coup for Mr Macron, who has been in retreat at home since losing parliamentary elections in the summer and ousting his hand-picked prime minister this week.
“This will be a high-level diplomatic moment to establish connections and for leaders to try to glean hints about what Trump will do when he becomes president.” , said Patrick Martin Genia, professor of international relations at the University of Sciences Po.
Many European leaders are concerned about Trump’s return and are now courting him.
The reopening is a victory for President Macron, who championed the cause of restoring the cathedral within five years after it was nearly destroyed by a fire in 2019.
Macron is one of the few European leaders who served during Trump’s first term and hopes to draw on his experience dealing with the unpredictable 78-year-old president-elect.
During Trump’s first term, Macron used flattery and arrogance to curry favor with the U.S. president, inviting him to attend Bastille Day military parades, but their friendship was short-lived and he was forced to sell French products such as cognac. The agreement broke down over US tariffs.
President Trump took to social media to praise Macron’s “amazing job” in quickly restoring the cathedral “to its full level of glory” and announced that he would attend the reopening ceremony. He added, “Today will be a special day for everyone!”
The presence of prominent figures representing Trump in the Middle East in his delegation provides further diplomatic opportunities on the sidelines of Notre Dame.
His inner circle includes billionaire Elon Musk, special envoy Steve Witkoff, who recently met with Israel and Qatar over the Gaza ceasefire, and Massad Boulos, the adviser tasked with upholding the U.S.-France ceasefire in Lebanon. was included. He is also the stepfather of President Trump’s daughter Tiffany.
President Trump last week nominated another family member to be the U.S. ambassador to France. That person is real estate developer Charles Kushner, father of President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Around 3,000 visitors, including the Prince of Wales and the presidents of Germany and Italy, will be among the first to see the new, bright interior, which has removed all traces of the fire.
Billionaire donors contributed more than half of the €800 million restoration budget, including Bernard Arnault, head of luxury goods giant LVMH, and François-Henri Pinault, who runs Gucci owner Kering. was also in attendance.
The ceremony was scheduled to begin at 7pm local time, but the outdoor portion, including the star-studded concert, was canceled due to inclement weather.
Notre Dame’s Gothic masterpiece will officially reopen as a place of worship when the Archbishop of Paris knocks on its towering wooden doors and enters the procession to the altar.
