[The Notre Dame Cathedral will host a grand reopening ceremony for President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday, featuring dozens of world leaders, as part of a five-year restoration project. The occasion comes at a tumultuous time for Western Europe, as governments face a push-and-pull between liberal democratic order and rising right-wing movements.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who has invited Trump to the ceremony, hopes to stabilize his collapsing government and maintain influence abroad, particularly regarding the future of Western support for Ukraine against Russia. Trump has pledged to bring immediate peace to the region, although allies of Ukraine are concerned he may push for a ceasefire or peace deal favorable to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The French press has praised Macron’s diplomatic coup in bringing Trump to Paris, where he and other pro-Ukrainian leaders can make their case in a luminous setting. Trump has a long-standing fascination with the cathedral, which he tweeted about during its 2019 fire, suggesting the use of water tankers to extinguish the flames.
The visit comes as Macron faces a tough balancing act, seeking to maintain Western support for Ukraine while navigating Trump’s potential ceasefire efforts. The French president has also invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet with him before the ceremony, although it remains unclear if Trump and Zelensky will have direct conversations.
Not everyone is impressed, with US late-night comedians mocking the showy visit. “If all goes according to plan, he would like to buy it and turn it into a casino,” joked Jimmy Kimmel. For Macron, the occasion is no laughing matter, as he seeks to sustain the fragile coalition supporting Ukraine and rebuild the cathedral in time for its reopening.
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