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December 8, 2024 | 06:41 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President-elect of the United States Donald Trump returned to the world stage on Saturday, December 7, 2024 to join world leaders at the reopening event of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. Although still just an ordinary citizen, he is already preparing to address a number of international crises.
Reported by Reuters, this visit marks Trump's first trip abroad since winning the election a month ago. Trump's presence is expected to provide an opportunity for French President Emmanuel Macron to play a mediating role between Europe and unpredictable American politicians, a role that the French leader has favored in the past.
Local media reported that Trump landed at Orly Paris airport shortly before 6:00 a.m. local time on Saturday before heading to the US Embassy near the French president's palace.
Both are expected to meet during the Saturday visit. Although there is no announced agenda for their discussions, European leaders are concerned that Trump may withdraw US military aid to Ukraine at a crucial moment in its struggle to repel Russian invaders.
Macron is a strong supporter of the NATO alliance and Ukraine's struggle, while Trump believes that European countries need to pay more for their collective defense and that a negotiated solution is needed to end the war in Ukraine.
"Mr. Macron is repeating his personal approach that has had some limited success during Mr. Trump's first term. Macron knows Mr. Trump greatly appreciates grandeur, luxury, and the greatness of a country and he is providing them in abundance," said Heather Conley, senior adviser to the German Marshall Fund board, which promotes US-European relations, as quoted by Reuters.
Trump will join dozens of world leaders and foreign officials for the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral 5.5 years after it was engulfed in flames. He is also scheduled to meet with Prince William of England but it is unclear if he will meet with any other leaders besides Macron. Trump's transition team did not respond to Reuters' requests for details on this.
Trump will only be inaugurated as US president on January 20. He has held discussions with several world leaders and his team members are working to address a number of developing world crises, including Ukraine and the Middle East.
Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and Ukrainian envoy Keith Kellogg met on Wednesday in Washington with Ukrainian envoy Andriy Yermak, sparking speculation that a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may soon take place in Paris.
Macron's office said the French president will host a bilateral meeting with Trump at 3:00 p.m. local time at the Elysee Palace, followed by a meeting with Zelensky an hour later, but did not say whether the three men would meet together.
Trump, a Republican, held power when Notre-Dame burned in 2019. He lost the re-election in 2020 to Democrat Joe Biden, but on November 5, he defeated Kamala Harris, Vice President Biden, to reclaim the presidency.
"Symbolically, both President Trump and Notre-Dame have been restored within almost the same timeframe. His visit to Paris also marks the first step in his return to the world stage, which will shorten the final days of the Biden administration," Conley said. Biden's wife, First Lady Jill Biden, will also represent the United States at the reopening of Notre-Dame.
Editor's choice: Notre Dame Cathedral Reopens After Devastating Fire Five Years Ago
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