Trump receives a Paris welcome full of presidential pomp from France’s Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Donald Trump to Paris connected Saturday pinch a afloat a dose of statesmanlike pomp arsenic nan 2 men resumed nan narration they established during Trump’s first word aft a four-year hiatus.

Trump, nan erstwhile and early American president, said nan 2 would beryllium discussing a world that’s gone “a small crazy” arsenic they met 1 connected 1 earlier a ceremony of nan reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral 5 years aft a devastating fire.

As Trump arrived astatine nan Elysee Palace, nan charismatic residence of nan French president, Macron went retired of his measurement to task an image of adjacent ties, posing for aggregate handshakes interspersed pinch plentifulness of back-patting. Trump said it was “a awesome honor” and talked astir nan “great relationship” they person had.

Trump said nan 2 would beryllium discussing a world that’s gone “a small crazy” arsenic they met one-on-one up of a ceremony of nan reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral 5 years aft a devastating fire.

At nan palace, a expansive reddish carpet was rolled successful nan aforesaid measurement nan French invited sitting American presidents.

Before they went inside, Trump said, “It surely seems for illustration nan world is, going a small crazy correct now. And we’ll beryllium talking astir that.”

When he accepted nan invitation to recreation to Paris, Trump said Macron had done “a awesome occupation ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its afloat level of glory, and moreover much so. It will beryllium a very typical time for all!” A occurrence successful 2019 nearly destroyed nan 861-year-old landmark.

More than 20 French authorities information agents were helping guarantee Trump’s information alongside nan Secret Service, according to French nationalist police. A typical French constabulary van provided anti-drone protection for Trump’s convoy.

Security was tighter than accustomed extracurricular nan U.S. Embassy and different sites astir Paris for nan Notre Dame reopening, wherever dozens of world VIPs were expected.

Macron, who has had an up-and-down narration pinch Trump, has made a constituent of cultivating a narration since nan Republican defeated Democrat Kamala Harris past month. But Macron’s agency nevertheless played down nan value of nan invitation, saying different politicians not now successful agency had been invited arsenic well.

Trump was invited arsenic president-elect of a “friendly nation,” Macron’s agency said, adding, “This is successful nary measurement exceptional, we’ve done it before.”

The reddish carpet curen was yet different motion of really eager some Macron and different European leaders are to triumph Trump’s favour and placate him moreover earlier he takes office.

Trump is known to revel successful pomp and circumstance. One of his first trips arsenic president his first word was to Paris, wherever Macron made him nan the impermanent of grant astatine Bastille Day events. Trump later said he wanted to replicate nan expansive subject parade backmost successful nan United States.

Democratic President Joe Biden was invited arsenic good but will not attend. White House property caput Karine Jean-Pierre cited a scheduling conflict and said first woman Jill Biden will correspond nan United States.

Trump and Jill Biden past encountered 1 different soon aft nan election, erstwhile he visited nan White House for nan accepted gathering betwixt outgoing and incoming presidents.

Trump’s sojourn to France comes arsenic Macron and different European leaders are trying to triumph Trump’s favour and seduce him to support support for Ukraine successful its defense against Russia’s invasion. Macron’s agency said Macron and Trump would talk that arsenic good arsenic wars successful nan Middle East.

That gathering will return spot earlier nan Notre Dame event, arsenic will nan get-together pinch Prince William, who’s besides scheduled to meet pinch Jill Biden, according to nan British royal palace.

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Macron besides planned to meet pinch Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It’s not clear whether Trump will meet Zelenskyy, too. Trump has pledged to extremity nan warfare successful Ukraine swiftly but has not specified how, raising concerns successful Kyiv astir what position whitethorn beryllium laid retired for immoderate early negotiations.

In an effort to build spot pinch nan incoming U.S. administration, Zelenskyy’s apical adjutant Andriy Yermak met cardinal members of Trump’s squad connected a two-day travel earlier this week. A elder Ukrainian official, who said connected information of anonymity arsenic he was not authorized to speak publicly, described nan meetings arsenic productive, but declined to disclose details.

Relations betwixt France and nan U.S. during Trump’s first word began warmly capable but grew increasingly strained over time.

Macron was the guest of honor at Trump’s first authorities dinner, and Trump traveled to France respective times. But nan narration suffered after Macron criticized Trump for questioning nan request for NATO and raising doubts astir America’s committedness to nan communal defense pact.

During nan 2024 statesmanlike campaign, Trump often mocked Macron, imitating his accent and threatening to enforce steep tariffs connected vino and champagne bottles shipped to nan U.S. if France tried to taxation American companies.

But Macron was 1 of nan first world leaders to congratulate Trump past period aft nan election.

Trump was president successful 2019 erstwhile nan occurrence engulfed Notre Dame, collapsing its spire and threatening to destruct 1 of nan world’s top architectural treasures, known for its mesmerizing stained glass.

“So horrible to watch nan monolithic occurrence astatine Notre Dame Cathedral successful Paris,” he wrote connected what was past Twitter, offering his proposal to nan city.

“Perhaps flying h2o tankers could beryllium utilized to put it out. Must enactment quickly!” he wrote.

French officials appeared to respond soon after, noting that “All means” were being utilized to extinguish nan flames, “except for water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, could lead to nan illness of nan full building of nan cathedral.”

Last weekend, Trump announced that he intends to nominate real property developer Charles Kushner, nan begetter of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to service arsenic ambassador to France. Predecessors successful that prestigious domiciled see Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.