By JILL COLVIN, Related Press
NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump will attend the reopening celebration for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris this weekend, his first overseas journey because the election.
The cathedral is about to reopen Saturday after greater than 5 years of reconstruction following a devastating hearth in 2019 that engulfed and practically destroyed the hovering Paris landmark. The ceremonies being held Saturday and Sunday shall be high-security affairs, with about 50 heads of state and authorities anticipated to attend.
Trump introduced that he shall be amongst them in a put up on his Reality Social website Monday night.
“It is an honor to announce that I will be traveling 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,” he wrote. “President Emmanuel Macron has done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!”
The journey shall be Trump’s first overseas since he received November’s presidential election. He traveled to Scotland and Eire in Might 2023, as a candidate, to go to his native golf programs.
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A combo of pictures displaying the altar inside Notre Dame cathedral in Paris after the fireplace on April 16, 2019, high, and displaying after the renovation and brought on Friday Nov. 29, 2024. (Christophe Petit Tesson and Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
The facade of Notre-Dame Cathedral is seen in Paris, Friday Nov., 29 2024 forward of French President Emmanuel Macron’s remaining go to to the development website to see the restored interiors earlier than the enduring monument’s reopening for worship on Dec. 8. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool through AP)
A part of the facade of Notre-Dame Cathedral is seen in Paris, Friday Nov., 29 2024 forward of French President Emmanuel Macron’s remaining go to to the development website to see the restored interiors earlier than the enduring monument’s reopening for worship on Dec. 8. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool through AP)
Individuals stand inside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Friday Nov. 29 2024 earlier than French President Emmanuel Macron’s remaining go to to the development website to see the restored interiors earlier than the enduring monument’s reopening for worship on Dec. 8. (Sarah Meyssonnier, Pool through AP)
A person takes an image of Notre Dame Cathedral as French President Emmanuel Macron visits the renovated cathedral, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 in Paris. (AP Picture/Michel Euler)
The nave of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral is seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the cathedral, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
Individuals stroll in Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors the monument, Friday, Nov.29, 2024 in Paris. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool through AP)
The South Rose stainglass window of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral is seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the cathedral, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
The South Rose stainglass window of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral is seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the cathedral, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
Individuals collect as French President Emmanuel Macron visits the renovated Notre Dame Cathedral Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 in Paris. (AP Picture/Michel Euler)
French President Emmanuel Macron, third proper, and his spouse Brigitte Macron go to the restored interiors of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, Friday, Nov.29, 2024 in Paris. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool through AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, middle, and his spouse Brigitte Macron go to the restored interiors of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, Friday, Nov.29, 2024 in Paris. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool through AP)
Individuals stroll in Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors the monument, Friday, Nov.29, 2024 in Paris. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool through AP)
The altar designed by French artist and designer Guillaume Bardet is seen within the coronary heart of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
The altar designed by French artist and designer Guillaume Bardet is seen within the coronary heart of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
A part of the nave and the organ of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral are seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the cathedral, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
The nave of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral is seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the cathedral, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
Varias personas realizan un recorrido en el inside de la catedral de Notre-Dame de París durante una visita del presidente francés Emmanuel Macron, el viernes 29 de noviembre de 2024 en París. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool through AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he visits the restored interiors of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, Friday, Nov.29, 2024 in Paris. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool through AP)
The nave, the western Rose window and the organ of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral are seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
The tabernacle of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral is seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
The vaulted ceiling of the Notre-Dame cathedral is seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 in Paris. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool through AP)
Home windows within the coronary heart of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral are seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
The altar designed by French artist and designer Guillaume Bardet is seen within the coronary heart of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
The nave of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral is seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visited the restored interiors of the monument, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 in Paris. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool through AP)
The western Rose window and the organ of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral are seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
The nave, the western Rose window and the organ of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral are seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
The nave, the western Rose stainless window and the organ of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral are seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors Notre-Dame cathedral, Friday, Nov.29, 2024 in Paris. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool through AP)
A view of the Notre-Dame cathedral whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors monument, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 in Paris. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool through AP)
The choir stalls of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral are seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
The tabernacle of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral is seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
The vaulted ceiling of the Notre-Dame cathedral is seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 in Paris. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool through AP)
A view of the Notre-Dame cathedral as French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday, Nov.29, 2024 in Paris. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool through AP)
Home windows within the coronary heart of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral are seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Paris. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
The vaulted ceiling of the Notre-Dame cathedral is seen whereas French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the monument, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 in Paris. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool through AP)
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A combo of pictures displaying the altar inside Notre Dame cathedral in Paris after the fireplace on April 16, 2019, high, and displaying after the renovation and brought on Friday Nov. 29, 2024. (Christophe Petit Tesson and Stephane de Sakutin, Pool through AP)
Increase
Trump was president in 2019 when a large hearth engulfed Notre Dame, collapsing its spire and threatening to destroy one of many world’s best architectural treasures, recognized for its mesmerizing stained glass.
Trump watched the inferno in horror, together with the remainder of the world.
“So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris,” he wrote on what was then named Twitter, providing his recommendation to town.
“Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly!” he wrote.
French officers appeared to reply shortly after, noting that “All means” had been getting used to extinguish the flames, “except for water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, could lead to the collapse of the entire structure of the cathedral.”
Trump additionally spoke with Macron and Pope Francis on the time to supply his condolences and stated he had provided them “the help of our great experts on renovation and construction.”
Trump and Macron have had a sophisticated relationship.
Throughout Trump’s first time period in workplace, Macron proved to be among the many world leaders most adept at managing the American president’s whims as he tried to develop a private connection in-built no small half on flattery.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks at assembly of the Home GOP convention, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Picture/Alex Brandon)
Macron was the visitor of honor at Trump’s first state dinner and Trump traveled to France a number of occasions. However the relationship soured as Trump’s time period progressed and Macron criticized him for questioning the necessity for NATO and elevating doubts about America’s dedication to the mutual-defense pact.
As he ran for a second time period this 12 months, Trump usually mocked Macron on the marketing campaign path, imitating his accent and threatening to impose steep tariffs on wine and champagne bottles shipped to the U.S. if France tried to tax American corporations.
After Trump received one other time period final month, Macron rushed to win favor with the president-elect. He was among the many first world leaders to congratulate Trump — even earlier than The Related Press referred to as the race in his favor — and beat UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the punch in delivering a congratulatory cellphone name.
Macron and different European leaders are attempting to influence Trump to not abandon America’s assist for Ukraine in its combat towards Russia’s practically three-year invasion. European leaders hope to persuade Trump {that a} victory by Russia could be considered as a defeat for the U.S. — and for the incoming president, by extension — hoping to promote him on the necessity to pursue an finish to the warfare extra favorable to Kyiv than he may in any other case search.
Trump over the weekend introduced that he intends to appoint actual property developer Charles Kushner, the daddy of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to function ambassador to France. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading responsible years earlier to tax evasion and making unlawful marketing campaign donations.
The reopening of Notre Dame shall be an elaborate, multi-day celebration, starting Saturday.
Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich will preside at a reopening service that afternoon, banging on Notre Dame’s shuttered doorways along with his workers to reopen them, in response to the cathedral’s web site.
The archbishop may even symbolically reawaken Notre Dame’s thunderous grand organ. The hearth that melted the cathedral’s lead roofing coated the large instrument in poisonous mud. Its 8,000 pipes have been painstakingly disassembled, cleaned and retuned.
Macron will attend and handle the VIP friends.
After the service, opera singers Fairly Yende, from South Africa, and Julie Fuchs, from France; Chinese language pianist Lang Lang; Paris-born cellist Yo-Yo Ma; Benin-born singer Angelique Kidjo; Lebanese singer Hiba Tawaji and others will carry out at a live performance Saturday night, in response to the present’s broadcaster, France Télévisions.
On Sunday morning, the Paris archbishop will lead an inaugural Mass and consecration of the brand new altar.
Almost 170 bishops from France and different nations will be a part of the celebration, together with clergymen from all 106 parishes within the Paris diocese. The Mass shall be adopted by a “fraternal buffet” for the needy.
Ile de la Cité, the place the cathedral sits in the midst of the River Seine, shall be blocked off to vacationers for the occasions. A public viewing space with room for 40,000 spectators shall be arrange alongside the Seine’s southern financial institution.
Related Press author Zeke Miller contributed to this report from Washington.
Initially Printed: December 3, 2024 at 8:39 AM EST
