French President Emmanuel Macron greeted Donald Trump in Paris on Saturday with a full dose of presidential pomp because the two held a swiftly arranged meeting with Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky before celebrating the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.
On a day stuffed with pomp and a spotlight to pressing global issues, the once and future American president was warmly embraced by Macron upon his arrival on the Elysee Palace.
“It is a great honor for the French people to welcome you five years later,” Macron told Trump. “Welcome back.”
Trump said it was a “very great honor” to be there while noting the challenges ahead.
“It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now. And that’s what we’re going to talk about,” Trump said.
An actual red carpet was rolled out for Trump as Macron gave the diplomatic reception that France offers to the sitting American president, with trumpets blaring and members of the Republican Guard in full uniform. It was a transparent sign that Macron and other European leaders are already working to win his favor and treat him as America's representative on the world stage, even when Trump doesn't take office until January 20, 2025.
President Joe Biden declined an invite to attend the Notre Dame ceremony five years after a devastating fire, with the White House citing a scheduling conflict. In his place, First Lady Jill Biden served because the official US representative.
Macron and leaders across Europe are attempting to steer the elected president to proceed supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian invasion. Macron's office said the war and conflicts within the Middle East could be discussed.
As Trump arrived on the French president's official residence, Macron went out of his approach to project a picture of close ties, shaking hands and giving cameras loads of pats on the back.
In a video later posted on X, Macron might be heard asking Trump: “Do you remember?” as each men entered a reception room.
“I remember,” Trump replied.
Trump spent about 90 minutes inside, first meeting with Macron before Zelensky joined them for about 35 minutes.
Macron had long planned to fulfill individually with Zelensky. The French president's office said the three-way talks were proposed by Macron and agreed upon shortly before Trump's arrival. Trump has promised to quickly end the war in Ukraine but has not specified how he would try this, raising concerns in Kiev about what terms is likely to be set for future negotiations.
An individual acquainted with Trump's plans said before the meeting was announced that while Trump and Zelensky attended the cathedral ceremony and surrounding events and were prone to interact, Trump's transition team had not worked with the Ukrainians to rearrange formal talks.
After the on-site meeting, a senior Trump transition official didn’t dispute the concept that it got here about on the last minute, but said it was “extensively discussed and agreed upon” and that Trump was “fully briefed” prematurely of the time.
According to a French official, the three leaders spoke in English and a translator was within the room.
Trump was accompanied to Paris by a small contingent of advisers that included recent chief of staff Susie Wiles, in addition to Steve Witkoff, a longtime friend and real estate investor whom Trump has named as his special envoy to the Middle East, and Massad Boulos, who’s Trump's father-in-law daughter Tiffany and can function senior advisor for Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.
Apparently the group didn’t include anyone who knew anything about Ukraine.
“United States, Ukraine and France. Together on this historic day. United for Notre Dame. Let us continue to work together for peace and security,” Macron then wrote on X.
Trump's victory last month raised doubts concerning the Biden administration's flow of cash and arms to Ukraine – aid was reinforced on Saturday by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's announcement of a $988 million package that will boost American military support increased to over $62 billion since Russia's invasion in February 2022.
Trump called Zelensky “the biggest salesman in the world” because he won billions in US aid. Trump also said he worked out a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine inside a day of taking office and promoted his good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
To construct trust with the brand new US administration, Zelensky's top adviser Andriy Yermak met key members of Trump's team on a two-day trip to the US earlier this week.
According to 2 European officials acquainted with the matter, Macron argued that a defeat for Ukraine or a ceasefire with Russia on terms unfavorable to Ukraine could be seen as a loss for the US and even for Trump himself.
After arriving at Notre Dame for the ceremony, Trump was greeted by Macron and his wife Brigitte. He was assigned prime seats on the service, right between himself – a greater seat than Jill Biden, who sat on the opposite side of Brigitte Macron – and lots of current government and heads of state.
Inside, Trump also greeted Zelensky and Britain's Prince William, whom Trump later met on the British ambassador's residence in Paris. Trump was greeted within the foyer, shook the king's hand and said: “Good man, this.”
Trump told reporters that the Prince of Wales had done “a fantastic job” before the 2 met in a non-public room reserved for senior figures on the residence that was once the Paris city residence of Princess Pauline Borghese, the youngest , sat down and chatted with sister of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
According to the British Royal Palace, a separate meeting between Prince William and Jill Biden was also planned.
Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and
Macron, whose relationship with Trump has been up and down, has made some extent of maintaining their bond for the reason that Republican defeated Democrat Kamala Harris. Still, Macron's office played down the importance of the invitation, saying that other politicians who are actually out of office had also been invited.
Trump was invited because the elected president of a “friendly nation,” Macron’s office said, adding: “This is by no means exceptional, we’ve done this before.”
It is well-known that Trump revels in pomp and splendor. One of his first trips as president during his first term was to Paris, where Macron made him guest of honor at Bastille Day events. Trump later said he desired to repeat the big military parade within the United States.
Relations between France and the United States began quite amicably during Trump's first term in office, but became increasingly tense over time.
Macron was a guest of honor at Trump's first state dinner, and Trump traveled to France several times. But the connection suffered after Macron criticized Trump for questioning the necessity for NATO and casting doubt on America's commitment to the mutual defense pact.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump often mocked Macron, imitating his accent and threatening to impose steep tariffs on bottles of wine and champagne shipped to the United States if France tried to tax American firms.
But Macron was considered one of the primary world leaders to congratulate Trump after the election last month.
As he accepted the invitation to Paris, Trump said Macron had “done a wonderful job making sure Notre Dame is back to its full glory and even more so. It will be a very special day for everyone!” Trump was president in 2019 when a hearth almost destroyed the 861-year-old landmark.
image credit : www.cnbc.com