Donald Trump has announced on social media that he will attend the reopening of the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris this weekend, marking his first trip abroad as US president-elect.
The 850-year-old cathedral, which was severely damaged by fire in 2019, will welcome visitors and worshippers once again this Saturday and Sunday, with many world leaders expected to attend.
“It is an honour to announce that I will be travelling to Paris, France, on Saturday to attend the re-opening of the Magnificent and Historic Notre Dame Cathedral, which has been fully restored after a devastating fire five years ago,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who set an ambitious goal of rebuilding Notre-Dame within five years, praised the workers for their remarkable efforts in restoring the cathedral, calling it the “impossible” healing of a “national wound.”
Trump also praised Macron’s work, writing on Truth Social, “Macron has done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre-Dame has been restored to its full glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!”
Trump and Macron initially developed a cordial relationship when Trump took office in 2017, but their bond later faced challenges as the US leader pursued a retreat from multilateralism, often conflicting with Macron’s stance.
In 2019, as the fire raged, Trump controversially suggested using water bombers to extinguish the flames, a suggestion that was mocked by French fire services.
The cathedral’s restoration involved 250 companies and hundreds of experts, with costs totaling nearly 700 million euros (over $750 million). These funds were raised through donations from 150 countries.
Macron had invited Pope Francis to the reopening, but in September 2023, the Pope announced he would not attend, surprising many.
