Over the weekend, Donald Trump will fly to Paris in what will be his first international trip as president-elect. Trump will be among the guests at the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral, restored following the devastating fire in April 2019.
“President Emmanuel Macron has done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Monday. “It will be a very special day for all!”
The MAGA leader and the French president worked closely together during The Donald’s first term in the White House, and pundits have often referred to their relationship as a sort of “bromance,” despite publicly criticizing each other on a few occasions.
Macron was the first foreign political leader to congratulate Trump after his triumph at the polls last Nov. 5. “Ready to work together as we did for four years”, the French president wrote on the occasion, “With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.”
Upon receiving the invitation, Trump told his team that he wanted to attend the event, as he has long been fascinated by Notre Dame. When the iconic Parisian cathedral was engulfed in flames, Trump had watched footage of the fire while on board Air Force One, commenting on social media: “So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly!”
According to early rumors, about 50 heads of state will take part in the reopening ceremony on Sunday. For Italy, the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, will be present.
As reported by CNN, moreover, it would appear that Macron, in the coming months, will also invite Elon Musk, who took an active role of the final phase of Trump’s election campaign and whom he supported to the tune of millions of dollars, to Paris. The richest man in the world, he will now lead the new department, DOGE.
Musk and the president-elect could then fly back to the French capital in February 2025, for a summit on artificial intelligence.
