President-elect Trump attended the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral along with First Lady Jill Biden and other prominent world leaders.
Notre-Dame Cathedral reopened on Saturday, five years after a fire severely damaged the historic Gothic cathedral.
Trump was seated between French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prince William were also in attendance at the ceremony.
Also in the same row as President Trump was First Lady Jill Biden, who attended the event with her daughter Ashley. President Joe Biden did not attend.
Trump meets with Macron and Zelenskiy ahead of reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
First Lady Jill Biden (CL) speaks with President-elect Donald Trump during a ceremony marking the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, a landmark in central Paris, on December 7, 2024. (Thibault Camus)
President Trump and the first lady greeted each other prior to the ceremony.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, an ally of President Trump, also attended the ceremony.
The president-elect met privately with Mr. Macron and Mr. Zelensky before the ceremony, and was also scheduled to meet with Prince William after the ceremony.
President Emmanuel Macron’s wife Brigitte Macron (CL) sits alongside President Joe Biden’s daughter Ashley Biden (left), US First Lady Jill Biden (left), and French President Emmanuel, the next Meeting with President Donald Trump (CR). Macron (right) inside Notre Dame Cathedral before a ceremony marking the reopening of the landmark cathedral in central Paris on December 7, 2024. (Ludovic Marin)
The $740 million restoration project was funded by donations from 150 countries and included the application of carpentry methods dating back to the 13th century.
Notre Dame Cathedral rises from the ashes as a symbol of hope
Trump’s attendance was at Macron’s invitation, people familiar with the president-elect’s plans told Fox News. Macron became the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump after his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in November’s presidential election.
Guests stand as the doors to Notre Dame Cathedral open during a ceremony to mark the reopening of the landmark cathedral in central Paris, December 7, 2024. (Ludovic Marin)
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Paris Police Chief Laurent Nuñez said in an interview published by French media outlet Le Parisien that about 50 heads of state are expected to attend, but it remains unclear who and which countries will attend. Didn’t make it clear.
