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President-elect Donald Trump is set to attend the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, marking his first international trip since winning a second term. The event will take place on December 7-8, celebrating the completion of restoration efforts following a destructive fire in 2019.
Trump expressed his enthusiasm for the visit in a statement, noting the significance of attending the reopening of "the Magnificent and Historic Notre Dame Cathedral." He commended French President Emmanuel Macron for overseeing the restoration efforts.
The relationship between Trump and Macron has been mixed, with moments of cooperation as well as tension. Macron recently acknowledged the impact of the fire, calling it a tragic event that affected both France and Catholics worldwide. He praised firefighters who saved the cathedral during an intense 15-hour effort.
Macron toured Notre Dame with several dignitaries, including his wife Brigitte Macron and Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich. During this tour, he recognized over 1,000 artisans involved in restoring various elements of the cathedral.
Notre Dame's iconic spire has been reconstructed using historic French oak trees and was revealed earlier this year. Additionally, significant religious relics were placed within a restored symbol atop the spire last December. The grand organ inside Notre Dame also underwent renovations after being coated with lead dust from the fire.
During Trump's presidency at the time of the fire, he suggested via social media that water tankers could be used to extinguish it quickly. However, French authorities chose not to use such methods due to concerns about potential structural damage.
Michel Picaud, president of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris—a nonprofit supporting restoration—highlighted Americans' strong connection to Notre Dame due to historical ties and cultural influences.
Kate Scanlon and Gina Christian report for OSV News on Washington matters and can be followed on X (formerly Twitter).
