On Saturday, December 7, 2024, newly-elected President of the United States Donald Trump returned to the world stage to witness the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. This marked his first overseas visit since winning the presidential election a month ago.
According to reports from French media, Trump arrived at Orly Airport in Paris around 6:00 GMT on Saturday and then proceeded to the U.S. Embassy near the French Presidential Palace. During his visit on Saturday, he is expected to meet with French President Macron. While the agenda of the meeting has not been disclosed, European leaders are concerned that Trump may withdraw U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
Macron is a staunch supporter of NATO alliance and Ukraine in its conflict, while Trump believes that European countries need to contribute more towards collective defense and that a negotiated solution is needed to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Trump will join dozens of world leaders and foreign dignitaries in attending the reopening ceremony of the Notre Dame Cathedral. The landmark in the French capital was devastated by a fire five and a half years ago and has been under reconstruction since.
Trump is also scheduled to meet with Prince William of the United Kingdom, although it is unclear whether he will meet with any other leaders besides Macron. Trump’s transition team did not respond to requests from Reuters for further details.
Despite Trump’s presidential inauguration on January 20, he has already been engaging with numerous world leaders, and his team members are actively responding to an escalating number of global crises, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Trump’s National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, and Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg met with Ukrainian envoy Andriy Yermak on Wednesday in Washington, sparking speculation that Trump may soon meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Paris.
The office of Macron announced that the French President will hold a bilateral meeting with Trump at the Elysee Palace at 15:00 GMT, and an hour later, a meeting with Zelensky, but did not confirm whether the three will meet together.
In 2019 when the Notre Dame Cathedral was engulfed in flames, Trump was the President of the United States.
Jill Biden, the wife of President Biden, will represent the United States at the Notre Dame Cathedral reopening ceremony.