President-elect Donald Trump will be in Paris this weekend to attend the reopening of the historic Notre Dame Cathedral, alongside numerous world leaders. The event marks Trump’s first foreign trip since his election victory last month.
The cathedral’s restoration project, which was funded by donations from 150 countries and employed 13th-century carpentry methods, is being celebrated with a five-day series of events. President-elect Trump’s attendance is at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, who has a history of cultivating good relations with Trump.
The security measures for the event will be extensive, with Paris Police Chief Laurent Nuñez stating that they will mimic those used during the Paris Olympics. It is estimated that around 50 heads of state will be in attendance, although the specific countries and leaders have not been disclosed.
Notably, President Biden will not be attending the event, but First Lady Jill Biden will be present. Trump’s relationship with Macron has been described as a “bromance,” with the two leaders having previously collaborated on a Bastille Day military parade in Paris.
Trump’s attendance at the Notre Dame Cathedral reopening marks a chance for him to strengthen ties with Macron, who was the first foreign leader to congratulate him on his election victory. The two leaders have had their differences in the past, but their relationship has been marked by a level of deference from Macron towards Trump that has been absent from other NATO leaders.
Trump’s trip to Paris comes as Macron is dealing with his own political challenges, including the ousting of his prime minister through a no-confidence vote and growing demands for his own resignation.