President-elect Donald Trump is set to visit Paris this Saturday to attend the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, marking his first international trip since his reelection in November.
The iconic cathedral, which suffered extensive damage in a devastating fire in 2019, has been fully restored after years of meticulous reconstruction. French President Emmanuel Macron extended the invitation to Trump, who praised the restoration effort on his Truth Social platform, calling the event a “special day for all.” The ceremony is expected to bring together around 50 world leaders.
Trump and Macron share a history of a mixed but ultimately cooperative relationship during Trump’s first term. Macron was notably the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump on his recent election victory.
The visit coincides with Trump’s announcement of Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as his nominee for U.S. ambassador to France.
Looking ahead, reports suggest Trump and Macron are planning a follow-up meeting in February to participate in a high-profile summit on artificial intelligence. The summit is expected to feature prominent figures, including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, whom Trump has reportedly selected for a significant role in his upcoming administration. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.