The event is the Republican’s first international engagement after his victory in the November elections; Biden will not attend, but the first lady will represent the US at the ceremony
The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, on Monday (Dec 2, 2024) will participate in the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral, in Paris. It will be his first international commitment since his victory in the November 5 elections.
The Gothic cathedral, one of the most visited monuments in the French capital, will reopen on Saturday (Dec 7, 2024) after a restoration that lasted more than 5 years. The project recovered architectural elements such as the central spire, vaults, flying buttresses, stained glass windows and gargoyles, using white stone and gold decorations.
“President Emmanuel Macron has done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre-Dame is restored to its full level of glory, and even more. It will be a very special day for everyone!”wrote Trump on his social network Truth Social.
US First Lady Jill Biden will represent the current government at the ceremony. Trump’s visit comes amid a political crisis in France, where far-right and far-left parties have filed motions of no confidence against Prime Minister Michel Barnier.
Trump and Macron had at least one phone conversation about the trip, according to people close to the planning. The French government has not released information about meetings with other foreign leaders in Paris.
Restoration
Reconstruction of Notre-Dame began after a devastating fire on April 15, 2019, which destroyed the roof and toppled the iconic 19th-century spire. The project, budgeted at more than 800 million euros, included donations from businesspeople, institutions and citizens from around the world. The restoration strictly followed medieval construction techniques, using materials similar to the 12th century originals, including more than a thousand centuries-old oaks selected from French forests.
The return of the cathedral to the public marks not only an architectural achievement, but also a symbolic moment for Paris, which is preparing to host the 2024 Olympic Games. The reopening was initially scheduled to coincide with the start of the Olympics, but restoration work progressed more quickly than expected, allowing the ceremony to be brought forward to December.
