Donald Trump, the incoming US president, has confirmed he will attend the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Saturday, five years after a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 850-year-old Gothic monument. Donald Trump, who accepted an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron, is expected to be one of many world leaders attending the ceremony marking the restoration of the iconic structure, which has undergone extensive repairs following the fire in April 2019.
Donald Trump’s attendance will be his first foreign trip since his re-election last month, a comeback that has raised political concerns across Europe, including in France. The event will be especially notable as Donald Trump’s relationship with Macron, which began in 2017 with a seemingly cordial “bromance,” had soured over disagreements on issues such as climate change, trade, and defense. Macron, who had once formed a public alliance with the New York real estate mogul, is now facing political challenges at home, which could overshadow the ceremony.
The reopening ceremony will mix politics, religion, and diplomacy, with up to 50 heads of state and government, including German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, expected to attend. The event will feature speeches, a mass service, and an inspection of the monument. French officials are expecting up to 40,000 people to gather for the occasion, with a concert broadcast live featuring the Notre Dame choir and the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra. There are rumors that singer Pharrell Williams may also perform.
Notre Dame’s near-destruction in 2019 shocked the world, with the flames threatening to destroy the cathedral that has been part of Paris’s identity for centuries. The fire caused significant damage, but thanks to the heroic efforts of firefighters, the cathedral was saved from complete collapse. The restoration work, which included the repair of the artwork, walls, and facilities, cost an estimated 700 million euros ($750 million). Macron praised the work as a remarkable achievement, describing the cathedral as now “much more welcoming” and “sublime.”
While Pope Francis will not attend the reopening ceremony, he will visit Corsica later in December. The public mass service on Sunday, to be attended by Macron, is already fully booked. The grand reopening of Notre Dame represents a moment of national pride for France and marks the culmination of a restoration effort that has captured the world’s attention.
