Ahead of the Notre-Dame Cathedral reopening ceremony, French President Emmanuel Macron held a trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US president-elect Donald Trump in Paris. The day blended pageantry with focus on pressing global issues.
The trilateral meeting on Saturday followed a bilateral discussion between Trump and Macron at the Élysée presidential palace.
The two leaders embraced and shook hands several times on the steps of the French presidential palace, with Trump receiving a full guard of honour.
“It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that,” Trump told reporters as he prepared for talks with Macron.
Trump’s visit to France, part of the global celebration of Notre-Dame’s reopening five years after a devastating fire, coincided with Macron and other European leaders trying to gain Trump’s support to continue backing Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion.
Despite past tensions between them during Trump’s first term, he praised his relationship with Macron, saying, “We had a great relationship as everyone knows. We accomplished a lot.”
As Trump arrived at the French presidential residence, Macron went out of his way to project a sense of camaraderie, posing for multiple handshakes and back-patting moments. Trump said it was “a great honour” and spoke of their “great relationship.” A grand red carpet was laid out, much like the French tradition for welcoming sitting US presidents.
Macron told Trump, “It’s a great honour for French people to welcome you” for the Notre-Dame reopening ceremony, five years after the historic cathedral was ravaged by fire. “You were president at that time and I remember the solidarity and the immediate reaction,” Macron added, speaking in English.
When Trump first took office in 2017, his relationship with Macron began on a warm note, despite their political differences. Their long and firm handshakes, which often saw both men assert their superiority, became a light-hearted topic of focus before their relationship cooled and soured due to disputes over climate change, trade, and defense.
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The Meeting proposed by Macron
Zelensky arrived at the French presidential palace about 45 minutes after Trump.
According to the French presidential office, the trilateral meeting was proposed by Macron and arranged just before Trump’s arrival. While Trump has promised to swiftly end the war in Ukraine, he has not specified how, raising concerns in Kyiv about the terms that could be set for future negotiations.
Trump was invited as president-elect of a “friendly nation,” Macron’s office clarified, adding, “This is in no way exceptional, we’ve done it before.”
The red carpet treatment, however, highlighted how eager both Macron and other European leaders are to secure Trump’s favor and appease him even before he assumes office.
Trump, who is known for enjoying grand displays, received similar treatment during his first term as president. One of his first trips abroad was to Paris, where Macron made him the guest of honor at Bastille Day celebrations. Trump later expressed a desire to replicate the lavish military parade back in the United States.
Democratic President Joe Biden was not invited to the event. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre explained that due to a scheduling conflict, First Lady Jill Biden would represent the United States.
Trump’s commitment to NATO
In an effort to build trust with the incoming US administration, Zelensky’s top aide, Andriy Yermak, met with key members of Trump’s team during a two-day trip earlier this week. A senior Ukrainian official, speaking on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly, described the meetings as productive but declined to provide further details.
Relations between France and the US during Trump’s first term started off amicably but became increasingly strained over time.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump frequently mocked Macron, imitating his accent and threatening to impose steep tariffs on wine and champagne bottles shipped to the US if France attempted to tax American companies.
Despite this, Macron was one of the first global leaders to congratulate Trump last month after the election.
When accepting the invitation to travel to Paris, Trump said, “Macron had 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!”
To ensure Trump’s safety, more than 20 French government security agents were deployed alongside the Secret Service, according to French national police. A special French police van was also used to provide anti-drone protection for Trump’s convoy.
Security around the US Embassy and other locations in Paris was heightened for the Notre-Dame reopening, where dozens of international VIPs were expected.
Last weekend, Trump announced his intention to nominate real estate developer Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as ambassador to France. Previous holders of this prestigious role include Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.
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