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THE RESTORED SPIRE of the 861 year-old Notre Dame cathedral is to provide a dramatic backdrop for Donald Trump’s return to the geopolitical stage, as the US president-elect makes a visit to Europe to mingle with world leaders at an official reopening ceremony in Paris today.
Trump posted on his Truth Social website shortly after accepting the invitation, saying that French President Emmanuel 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 visit is Trump’s first trip overseas since he won the presidential election a month ago, and could offer Macron an opportunity to play the role of mediator between Europe and the unpredictable U.S. politician, a role the French leader has relished in the past.
Macron, who has had an up-and-down relationship with Trump, has made a point of cultivating a relationship with the President-elect since he defeated Kamala Harris in the US election last month.
Macron’s office nonetheless played down the significance of the invitation, saying that other politicians who do not currently hold office had been invited as well.
Trump was invited as President-elect of a “friendly nation”, Macron’s office told reporters, adding: “This is in no way exceptional, we’ve done it before.”
The ceremony marks the reopening of France’s historic Notre Dame Cathedral for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the landmark in 2019.
The restoration is widely seen as a moment of triumph for Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline – and a welcome respite from his domestic political woes.
The packed evening ceremony is being hailed as a rare moment of unity against the backdrop of global divisions and conflicts.
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President Joe Biden was invited to the ceremony but will not attend due to “scheduling conflicts”, with First lady Jill Biden set to attend to “represent America”.
Nearly 50 heads of state and government and personalities – 1,500 guests in all – will attend the reopening celebration under Notre Dame’s soaring Gothic arches, led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich.
Trump’s visit to France comes as Macron and other European leaders are trying to cultivate Trump’s favour and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s three-year invasion.
Ahead of the Notre Dame event, Macron will meet Trump and then separately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the French President’s office said.
It is not clear whether Trump will meet Zelensky. Trump has vowed to end the war in Ukraine swiftly but has not specified how he will do so, raising concerns in Kyiv about what terms may be laid out for any future negotiations.
Relations between France and the US during Trump’s first term began warmly enough but grew increasingly strained over time.
The relationship suffered after Macron criticised Trump for questioning the need for Nato and raising doubts about America’s commitment to the mutual defence pact.
On the campaign trail this year, Trump often mocked Macron, threatening to impose steep tariffs on wine and champagne bottles shipped to the US if France tries to tax American companies.
But Macron was one of the first global leaders to congratulate Trump last month after the election, posting a message to Trump on X the morning after the US President-elect secured his second term in office.
“Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity,” Macron said.
With additional reporting from Press Association.
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Brilliant. No better man to see the reopening of a very important Catholic landmark for European citizens. The Cathedral represents resilient Christians who will not bow to sinister external forces present in France today. Thank God Almighty.
@Marvin Dollery: Haha hilarious. As if anything has a darker and more sinister legacy than Christianity! From all the terrible regressive ideas it left us with to the eye watering levels of torture, murder and abuse. But for once I agree. Trump is the perfect attendee for a theatre of hypocrisy and abuse.
@Brendan O’Brien: Of course I am, I’m Irish. Yes, widely known fact and nothing new. Only difference is the good samaritan didn’t bring a fundamentally violent and repressive ideology with them.
‘Only difference is the good samaritan didn’t bring a fundamentally violent and repressive ideology with them’
Oh my!
Dude, go to a bookshop, library or hit a search engine. Are you really this unaware of the history of Christianity in Europe and around the world?! A quick look at the procession of ignorance and hypocrisy in the US, gives us a pretty strong indication of what happens even now, when these lunatics gain too much power. Of all your rants – insisting that Christianity is some banine and enlightened societal ideal, has to be the most ludicrous.
@SerotoninWars: There’s only one question needed here – does this occur in Christianity in Western Countries today? Almost everything in this world at the beginning was violent and primitive. There were no laws to deter those with violent tendencies.
@Marvin Dollery: Yes. There are women dying in the US and elsewhere from a lack of reproductive healthcare, after the toxic evangelicals and other extremists got their mitts into politics and the state.
It’s an authoritarian religion that does untold damage behind the doors and in the homes of all the various sects. From the forced supplication of women to the indoctrination of children, some of the effects are harrowing. That’s before we get to the insane amount of covering up that happens still.
There is still so much Christian imperialism happening today. From India to so many countries in Africa. The effects of these people and their teachings are often as brutal as any bomb going off,
@SerotoninWars: So by your logic, bombing innocent civilians and committing terrorist attacks is the same as indoctrinating people into Christianity? Dear Lord.
@Marvin Dollery: Violence, oppression and perverse ideology come in many forms. Speaking of bombs I’m sure the people on the receiving end of all the western violence are chuffed they have good prayerful Christian’s calling the shots, at the other end. It’d look an awful lot like the kind of religious showdowns you talk about, if you are on the ground being obliterated by the hardware of so called Christian nations.
@Alan Kennedy: You know what happens to non-believers of a certain religion? They’re unalived in horrific ways. Something that doesn’t happen in Christianity, you just go on living your life as you’d like to. You need to go educate yourself on these things before taking the delusional high ground.
@SerotoninWars: What does those people actions have to do with Jesus Christ? Christianity is about one thing and one thing only, Jesus Christ. All this scutter you just said about what the Catholic Church did has nothing to do with Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church is the reason that the English, Germans, Danes, Dutch etc. turned to Protestantism. What sinful Christian ’calling the shots’ of dropping bombs has anything to do with what Christianity is about? Matthew 7:21 – ‘Not everyone who says to be Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in Heaven. And then I will declare to them – ‘I never knew you; Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Does it sound like Jesus would approve of those actions? You must be a saint.
@Marvin Dollery: So, the people in the Amazon jungle who don’t pray on a carpet on Friday or go to mass on Sunday, what happens to them? Are they also “unlived”?
‘Christianity is about one thing and one thing only, Jesus Christ’
Wishful thinking and wilfully ignoring the multiple strands of Christianity. It’s about many things. How about y’know the bible you conveniently left out? All those charming and brutally violent ‘solutions’ to the most innocuous of actions. The Old Testament especially is like a guide to setting up a nightmare society.
My mention of the Bush, Blair, Biden types (amongst a long long list of names) was in response to the idea that there is one righteous and civil side in this supposed clash of civilisations. If you are repeatedly told about the prayers many of these leaders make to their Christian god, before their big decisions, you might just associate it with Christianity at large. It wouldn’t even feel like a big jump considering its brutal history.
@Emer McDonnell: It’s perfectly possible to see the bad in both. I’m arguing against the simplistic idea that there’s one side that’s all good, all enlightened and the other, a wholly terrible enemy. The history of both is harrowing. Picking a side and convincing yourself it’s the good and righteous one might feel good but it’s not the truth.
Re the article you linked to – that is utterly despicable. Tragic and enraging in equal measure. I don’t want either of these worldviews or religions to be the centre of society and enmeshed in the state, starting in schools.
Of course you can pick out some abhorrent tyrants who were atheists. They did the things they did because they were terrible people, not because they felt justified by their faith or to please a divine being. Of course the removal of religion would not mean the end of all rank behaviour. It’d be a step in the right direction though considering the appalling legacy, dark teachings and ideas that come as standard in pretty much all of them.
@Marvin Dollery: All wars have been justified in the name of God. They even kill each other, Christians, Jews, Muslims. The Almighty one must be a really great God.
@Marvin Dollery: no “unaliving” done by Christianity tbf. Let’s completely ignore the Spanish Inquisition and the heresy trials. That’s all old hate. All about sexually exploiting kids these days.
@Eoin Jackson: that’s the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is infiltrated by gay pedophiles who abuse little boys. That’s why central and Northern Europe for the most part turned to Protestantism and rejected the Catholic Church.
@SerotoninWars: the Old Testament? Are you serious? Christians don’t follow the Old Testament you. How ignorant and foolish are you? Jews follow the Hebrew bible which is synonymous with the Old Testament. So your blaming Christians for the beliefs of Jews? You’re clueless and you will now change the subject to something different like a little squirmy rat.
@Maximilian Kolbe: Oh my. You literally don’t know what you are talking about. What is the Old Testament doing in every single bible of it’s only for the Jews? It takes up more of the bible than the New Testament. When it says ‘The Holy Scriptures’ on the front of the bible, it doesn’t say ‘except for over 2/3 of it – ignore that’! It’s absolutely fundamental to the story, lineage, arc and overall message.
A quote from the big guy you claim to follow and are the worst advertisement imaginable for…
‘Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill’
You are being incredibly dishonest and disingenuous in your attempts to pull a fast one disowning the Old Testament. You know full well how many Christian’s use OT teachings, laws and ideas in their lives. It’s used as source material and a moral guide by pretty much every single Christian sect. And why wouldn’t they if they believe it’s the holy word of god? You’re not likely to throw the majority of the bible in the bin just because there’s a bit of a change in the admin and arrangements over half way through. A new system is introduced for sure not once does Jesus say to rip up and bin everything that came before. He says the complete opposite.
Anyway, judging by your emotional outburst at the end, I’ve clearly gotten under your skin for doing nothing more than pointing out some facts. Maybe read some of the peaceful stuff in the New Testament that you claim to follow, even if it sounds like you’ve never read it.
@honey badger: you can say what you like about Macron, but he’s no Trump.
They really don’t like each other. Liked your phrase ‘herding cats’ ; that’s French politics !
@John Duggan: Disappointed that the usual destructive lefty headbangers didn’t get their way or disappointed that they weren’t able to pull the “racist” card in some way, shape or form?
@Daniel Skelton: The people of France are delighted he will be attending. To them, President Donald Trump represents strength and hope. France has similar lefty headcases intent on turning their Country into a medievil hellhole. With The Don in power, he will force sense into weak leaders. Win win.
@Sun Rise: What qualifies anyone? It’s an accurate observation that most people with intelligence are capable of. I’m very happy that it “triggered” you though. Of all the sour clowns on here, you’re a special one.
@Marvin Dollery: You are aware of what made medieval societies hellholes, right? It’s was Christianity! The most brutal and sadistic torture imaginable came as standard. Forced conversion was part of the package. If you think the ‘wokes’ are impeding your life…
@SerotoninWars: The “wokes” as you call them will bear the brunt of it. By your logic, allowing a barbaric ideology into a peaceful nation is a better solution. If only you had common sense.
@Marvin Dollery: I don’t want any repressive ideologies dominating society. Religion should be fully separated from all matters in civil life. If you want to do it on your own time – whatever. You are deflecting from the fact that they are all awful, once they become entrenched in the state and civil life. It’s one of the daftest attempts at stirring up the weak. Trying to pull everyone into a Christianity vs Islam battle. I’ll take a secular state with a big dose of science and logic on the side please!
@SerotoninWars: You’re completely entitled to your opinion lad, and I’m delighted you have the opportunity to express it. Everyone has one, even if people don’t agree with it. Nobody was pitting religions off one another. Merely pointing out that France is a proud Christian nation.
@Marvin Dollery: You can’t backtrack now. Come on – you started it! Not so subtly alluding to Islam in multiple comments and pitting it against a much more positive view of Catholicism and Christianity. I’m simply saying that it’s completely understandable if people break out in a sweat at the idea of any religion gaining vast power. It never ever ever ends well. The best argument against religion, is religion itself.
@SerotoninWars: Nobody is backtracking son. I’ve seen what lunacy I’m up against with you in comments below. There’s no point arguing with mentally unstable individuals. Waste of time.
@Marvin Dollery: Handy but oh so transparent. Can’t come back with an argument after a few inconvenient facts are thrown your way – resort to the usual and oh so tedious mental health insults. It’s not very convincing Marvin…
@Marvin Dollery: the SYMBOLISM IS amazing….. after that beautiful cathedral suffered such utter devastation… now rising like a phoenix…… akin to the beautiful future that the American people shall enjoy after the INAUGURATION OF PEACE JAN20TH
@Marvin Dollery: Oh dear. A very Trumpian approach there Marvin. Telling people you’ve successfully put across your point is not the same as actually doing it. Some people still value a paper trail and coherence.
@SerotoninWars: If you are unable to tell the difference, then there’s no helping you. I quite eloquently laid down my points, but then you suggested that terrorism and bombing is the same as enrolling people into peaceful Christianity, so I bowed out like the clappers.
@Dave G Doe: The problem here is that no one believes in ‘woke’. There’s no figurehead. There’s no leaders. There’s no centralised authority. There’s no buildings. There’s no holidays. There’s no sacred text. There’s no god!
All there is, is a loose collection of ideas, often ones that might be filed under progressive, that even the supposed adherents often disagree about. It’s become a bit of a useless term as it can mean anything from puritanical erasing of unpleasant ideas of their time, to really innocuous attempts at being a bit sounder to people in society. It’d be pretty hard to separate and stamp out something that is basically a really loose collection of ideas with barely anyone universally agreeing on them. ‘To whom should I make my complaint?’ ;)
@Marvin Dollery: No I didn’t. That’s pretty nasty misrepresenting someone like that. I simply pointed out that violence and oppressive behaviour is baked into both. Also that the idea that Christianity is somehow all grown up and a beacon of civility is total nonsense too. It’s still extremely damaging and life threatening in so many cases. Thankfully it’s all there in text below…
@Daniel Skelton: Your buddy Joe Biden raped one of his Congressional aides. She then told her mother who rang into Larry King about it. There is real evidence that he did it and you can go online to watch the clip. The mother calls into Larry King Live and said that a Senator engaged in “very upsetting behaviour” towards my daughter. Don’t forget all the sexual harassment allegations made against Biden. He was on the informal “predator list” which new Congressional aides and pages were warned about going near. People like Ted Kennedy, Chris Dodd, Bob Packman and many others were on it.
@Sun Rise: Why is there a rise to the right in France and throughout Europe? wouldn’t be because people are getting sick and tired of bowing down to EU dictate and a vocal bunch of leftie loons and the NGOs running them, would it?
It’s terrible that this convicted felon and preditor is back and the rest of the world needs to lick his backside. But it shows u the state America is in now. Ireland and the world are at his beck and call.. Enough to make your blood curl. Why people won’t go to specsavers and get there eyes done is beyond me.
@John Flanagan: He was overwhelmingly re-elected by sensible Americans. I think it is you who needs to visit Specsavers. After that, do an IQ test aswell just in case.
@Marvin Dollery: sensible. Come on. Where are been buried. He’s a criminal. And a preditor and he’s new side kick Musk the dusk is not much better. I’m afraid its u and your ilk has the USA and the world in termoil.
@Numinous20111: Even Trump would be thinking not The Bells again! Other techno anthems are available! Looking at Trump and his terrible diet he’d probably be shouting for the appallingly titled ‘Crispy Bacon’ :)
@conor mullholland: Humanity comes to together to raise more than a billion euros for the restoration costs in lightening quick time! Shame about Gaza though!
@Alan Kennedy: Hamas have determined the future of Gaza. War is unpredictable and it’s best not to start one. Civilians suffer when the macho men with guns set the agenda.
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