President-elect Donald Trump returned to the geopolitical stage in France over the weekend, attending a reopening ceremony at the restored Notre Dame Cathedral alongside dozens of world leaders. The visit comes as Trump is set to return to the White House in about six weeks.
French President Emmanuel Macron used the occasion to meet with Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, signaling an effort to stabilize his government’s stance on Ukraine amid rising tensions with Russia. Macron has been working to maintain Western support for Ukraine while navigating internal challenges at home.
Zelensky’s position is precarious, as Trump has expressed interest in bringing a ceasefire or peace deal that could favor Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump claims he has a plan to bring immediate peace to the region but has raised concerns among Ukraine’s allies.
Macron welcomed Trump with a customary handshake and praised his previous response to the Notre Dame fire five years ago. The ceremony featured a private meeting between Macron, Trump, and Zelensky, which lasted about 30 minutes.
Trump’s visit was met with rare praise from French media, with some hailing Macron’s diplomatic coup in arranging the meeting. The president-elect has long sought high-society recognition but faces skepticism from domestic critics.
Macron has invited Trump to Paris for a summit on artificial intelligence in early February, alongside tech billionaire Elon Musk. Trump also met with Prince William and First Lady Jill Biden during his visit, wrapping up her last official state trip abroad.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/07/politics/trump-paris-macron-notre-dame/index.html