Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelensky in their meeting
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed President-elect Donald Trump to Paris on Saturday with a full a dose of presidential pomp as the two held a hastily arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky before celebrating the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
On a day that mixed pageantry with attention to global problems, the once and future American president was warmly embraced by Macron upon arriving at the Elysee Palace.
“It’s a great honor for French people to welcome you five years later,” Macron told Trump.
Trump said it was a “very great honor” to be there, while hinting at challenges ahead: “It certainly seems like the world is going a little crazy right now. And we’ll be talking about that.”
France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral formally reopens its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the landmark in 2019.
An actual red carpet was rolled out for Trump as Macron bestowed the kind of full diplomatic welcome that France offers sitting American presidents, complete with trumpets blaring and members of the Republican Guard in full uniform.
It was a clear sign that even though Trump doesn’t take office until Jan. 20, Macron and other European leaders are already working to win his favor.
President Biden declined an invitation to attend the Notre Dame ceremony, five years after a devastating fire, with the White House citing a scheduling conflict. First Lady Jill Biden was the official U.S. representative in his place.
Ukrainians fear Trump will cut off military aid for the war against Russia, even as Ukraine’s leader aims to win him over with congratulations and praise.
Macron and leaders across Europe are trying to persuade the president-elect to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Macron’s office said the war, along with conflicts in the Mideast, would be discussed.
As Trump arrived at the official residence of the French president, Macron went out of his way to project an image of close ties, offering handshakes and plenty of back-patting. Trump spent about 90 minutes inside, meeting first with Macron before they were joined by Zelensky for about 35 minutes.
Macron had long planned to meet with Zelensky, and the French president’s office said the three-way meeting was proposed by Macron and arranged shortly before Trump’s arrival. The leaders spoke in English, and a translator was in the room, according to a French official.
“United States, Ukraine and France. Together on this historic day. United for Notre-Dame. Let’s continue to work together for peace and security,” Macron wrote on X afterward.
Trump’s victory last month threw into doubt the Biden administration’s flow of money and arms to Ukraine. Trump has characterized Zelensky as “the greatest salesman on Earth” for winning billions in U.S. aid.
President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin share some traits and want some of the same things. But a chasm divides them.
Trump has said he would work out a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine within a day of taking office, raising concerns in Kyiv about what terms may be laid out. Trump has promoted his good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In an effort to build trust with the incoming U.S. administration, top Zelensky aide Andriy Yermak met key members of Trump’s team on a two-day trip earlier this week.
Macron has argued that Ukraine’s defeat or a cease-fire with Russia on unfavorable terms to Ukraine would be viewed as a loss for the U.S. and even Trump himself, according to two European officials familiar with the matter.
As he arrived at Notre Dame for the ceremony, Trump was greeted by Macron and his wife, Brigitte, and given prime seating at the service right between them. Jill Biden sat on Brigitte Macron’s other side.
Inside, Trump also greeted Zelensky as well as Britain’s Prince William, whom Trump planned to meet with later at the British Embassy. William was also scheduled to meet separately with Jill Biden, according to the British royal palace.
Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and X who has spent considerable time with Trump recently and spent millions to get him elected, was also in attendance at Notre Dame.
Macron, who has had an up-and-down relationship with Trump, has made a point of cultivating their bond since the Republican defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. But Macron’s office nonetheless played down the significance of the invitation, saying other politicians not now in office had been invited as well.
Trump was invited as president-elect of a “friendly nation,” Macron’s office said, adding, “This is in no way exceptional, we’ve done it before.”
Relations between France and the U.S. during Trump’s first term began warmly enough but grew increasingly strained over time.
Macron was the guest of honor at Trump’s first state dinner, and Trump traveled to France several times. But the relationship suffered after Macron criticized Trump for questioning the need for NATO and raising doubts about America’s commitment to the mutual defense pact.
The day after an inferno struck Notre Dame cathedral in 2019, its chief architect, Philippe Villeneuve, walked despondently into its remains.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump often mocked Macron, imitating his accent and threatening to impose steep tariffs on wine and Champagne bottles shipped to the U.S. if France tried to tax American companies.
But Macron was one of the first global leaders to congratulate Trump after last month’s election.
When he accepted the invitation to travel to Paris, Trump said 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!”
Trump was president in 2019 when the fire engulfed Notre Dame, collapsing its spire and threatening to destroy one of the world’s greatest architectural treasures.
Associated Press writers Corbet reported from Paris, Gomez Licon from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Colvin from New York. AP writers Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
