Donald Trump has announced he will attend the grand reopening of Notre Dame in Paris this Saturday, marking his first major public outing since his election victory.
He took to Truth Social on Monday to praise French President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts in restoring the iconic cathedral, which was heavily damaged in a 2019 fire. Trump stated, “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. It will be a very special day for all!”
The reopening of this World Heritage site, which saw nearly 700 million euros raised from donors across 150 countries, is shaping up to be a significant global event, with leaders from around 50 nations expected to attend.
While Macron has worked closely with Trump during his first term, their relationship has not always been smooth, and the French president now faces his own political challenges. Macron’s government, led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier, is preparing for a no-confidence vote on Wednesday, which is expected to result in Barnier’s ouster. This comes after Barnier attempted to push through a budget without a parliamentary vote, angering both the left and the righ-wing factions in the French National Assembly. If Barnier is removed, Macron will need to find a new prime minister in the midst of pressing year-end budget deadlines.
