Donald Trump’s visit to Paris’ Notre Dame comes following an invitation from Macron
Sources from Washington reported that Notre Dame cathedral will reopen in paris on saturday with incoming US president donald trump to attend the ceremony marking the resurrection of the Gothic masterpiece five years after a devastating fire. The Republican confirmed monday he had accepted an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the grand re-opening of the 850-year-old edifice which was nearly lost to flames in april 2019.Perhaps it will be Trump’s first foreign trip since his re-election last month in a political comeback that has set off alarm bells in much of Europe, including in france where Macron regularly tussled with the New York real estate tycoon during his first term. trump posted on his Truth Social website that Macron had “done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!" The presence of trump is likely to encourage other world leaders to attend as they seek to build relations before his january 20 inauguration.Moreover a public area with capacity for 40,000 people will be created on the bank of the river Seine opposite Notre Dame, while a concert featuring the Notre Dame choir, the Radio france philharmonic orchestra and singers will be broadcast. There are unconfirmed rumours that Pharrell Williams will provide some international stardust. All tickets for the public mass in the 3,000-seat edifice were reserved within a few hours on Tuesday, according to the cathedral’s phone app.