Trump arrives in Paris as Europe prepares for a more transactional relationship

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Donald Trump marks his return to the world stage with the reopening of Paris' Notre-Dame Cathedral on Saturday, as Europe prepares for the new administration to take a tougher, more transactional approach to the transatlantic relationship.

The event, which attracted around 50 world leaders, comes at a decisive moment for Europe as Trump warns of punitive tariffs and pushes for a quick end to the war between Ukraine and Russia.

Emmanuel Macron will seek to discuss pressing issues during the two-day event and also appears to be trying to negotiate the first meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The French president met with Trump on Saturday afternoon at the Elysée before speaking with Zelensky.

With Ukraine heavily dependent on U.S. weapons to fight Russia, Zelensky pressured Trump not to abandon his cause or force him to accept unfavorable peace terms.

Facilitating an informal meeting would be a diplomatic coup for Macron, who has been in decline nationally since his defeat in summer legislative elections and the appointment of a hand-picked prime minister. spilled this week.

“This will be a high-level diplomatic moment for building connections and also for leaders to try to glean clues about what Trump will do when he takes office,” said Patrick Martin-Genier, professor of international relations at Sciences Po.

European leaders, many of whom feared Trump's return, are now beginning to court him.

The reopeningIt is a triumph for Macron, who championed the cause of the five-year repair of the cathedral that was nearly destroyed in a fire in 2019.

Macron, who is one of the few European leaders in office during Trump's first term, hopes to draw on his experience facing the unpredictable 78-year-old president-elect.

During Trump's first term, Macron used flattery and pomp to curry favor with the US president and invited him to the Bastille Day military parade, sparking a short-lived friendship that broken-down on American tariffs on French products like cognac.

Trump announced on social media that he would attend the reopening, praising Macron for his “wonderful work” to quickly restore the cathedral “to all its splendor.” He added: “It will be a special day for everyone! »

The presence of prominent figures in Trump's delegation who will represent him in the Middle East offers new diplomatic opportunities on the sidelines of Notre Dame.

His entourage included multi-billionaire Elon Musk, Steve Witkoff, a special envoy who recently held talks with Israel and Qatar on a Gaza ceasefire, and Massad Boulos, an adviser charged with maintaining the ceasefire. negotiated by the United States and France in Lebanon. He is also the stepfather of Trump's daughter Tiffany.

Trump named another one last week family connection to serve as United States Ambassador to France: Charles Kushner, a real estate developer who is the father of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Around 3,000 visitors, including the Prince of Wales and the presidents of Germany and Italy, will be among the first to admire the bright new interiors which have erased all traces of the fire.

Billionaire donors who contributed more than half of the 800 million euro restoration budget were also present, such as Bernard Arnault, boss of luxury giant LVMH, and François-Henri Pinault, who runs Gucci owner Kering.

The ceremonies were scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. local time, but the outdoor portion, including a star-studded concert, was canceled due to bad weather.

The Gothic masterpiece of Notre-Dame will be officially reopened as a place of worship when the Archbishop of Paris knocks on its imposing wooden doors and enters in a procession to the altar.