Donald Trump to Attend Notre-Dame Cathedral Reopening in Paris

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced he will attend the highly anticipated reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, marking his first overseas trip since securing a second term in the White House. The historic 12th-century Gothic cathedral, which was severely damaged by a fire in April 2019, is set to open its doors to the public once again this weekend, after a five-year restoration effort.

The cathedral’s reopening is a monumental event for both France and the Catholic community worldwide. French President Emmanuel Macron, who spearheaded the restoration, has called it a “national healing” process, referring to the fire as a wound that needed mending. Over the weekend, Notre-Dame will welcome visitors and the faithful, with many world leaders expected to attend the ceremony marking the completion of the restoration.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed his excitement to visit the cathedral, praising the restoration efforts led by President Macron. “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,” Trump wrote. He commended Macron for ensuring the restoration of the cathedral “to its full level of glory, and even more so,” calling the event a “very special day for all.”

The fire at Notre-Dame in 2019 shocked the world, with devastating images of the flames engulfing the roof and spire of the iconic landmark. Trump, then President, publicly suggested using “flying water tankers” to douse the flames, a recommendation quickly dismissed by French authorities who warned that such an approach could cause the collapse of the entire structure.

Despite their differences, Trump and Macron have maintained a relationship marked by both cooperation and conflict. Macron was one of the first leaders to congratulate Trump on his re-election, and he was the guest of honor at Trump’s first state dinner. However, the two have had tensions over issues such as NATO and France’s tax policies on American tech companies.

The restoration of Notre-Dame was funded largely through private donations, totaling 846 million euros ($887.4 million) from approximately 340,000 donors worldwide. The restoration effort, which involved over 250 companies and numerous experts, cost nearly 700 million euros ($734.3 million). Surplus funds, amounting to 140 million euros ($147 million), will be earmarked for future preservation of the cathedral.

As the historic site reopens, it marks not only the end of a significant restoration project but also a moment of national pride and cultural revival for France.