President-elect Donald Trump is set to triumphantly return to the international stage Saturday when he attends the re-opening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris along with other world leaders.
Trump will be joined at the highly anticipated event by such global bigs as French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and Britain’s Prince William.
President Biden is not attending the ceremony, instead sending his wife Jill to represent the US.
Zelensky officially plans to meet with Macron – a staunch ally of Ukraine in its war with Russia — during his visit, but “other meetings are also possible [for the Ukrainian leader], in particular with President-elect Donald Trump,” a Ukrainian source told AFP.
Such a meeting would make the gathering for the cathedral’s reopening a de facto diplomatic summit in a period of extreme tension between NATO and Russia over the Ukraine war.
The guest list for the famed cathedral’s re-opening ceremony — which will feature music from world-renowned musicians and the blessing of its grand organ — also will include the heads of state of Germany Italy, Poland, Bulgaria and Lithuania, Le Monde said.
Prince William will be joined by other royals at the event including King Felipe VI of Spain and likely the king and queen of Belgium, reports said.
All of the world leaders will have an opportunity to cozy up to Trump, the soon-to-be leader of the free world.
Trump has called the cathedral “one of the great treasures of the world” and lamented the devastating fire that ravaged the historic landmark in 2019.
The blaze is suspected of being caused by faulty electrical wiring or even a smoldering cigarette from a worker.
He has praised Macron for leading its restoration effort, which was completed with astonishing speed thanks to the efforts of more than 2,000 workers including many craftsmen.
“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,” the president-elect wrote on Truth Social.
Macron was one of the first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump on his election victory, posting on X that he was “ready to work together as we did for four years.
“With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity,” Macron wrote, addressing Trump.
Macron’s office also called Trump on the phone soon after he clinched the election win.
On Saturday, the pair will have a chance to meet face-to-face along with the hoards of other political leaders.
“It will be a very special day for us all!” Trump wrote.
