US President-elect Donald Trump returns to the world stage on Saturday to join leaders for the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, still a private citizen but already preparing to tackle a host of international crises. It's also an opportunity for France's beleaguered president to play the role of mediator between Europe and the unpredictable US politician.
It is Trump's first trip abroad since winning the presidential election a month ago.
He reportedly arrived at Orly airport in the south of Paris aboard a private plane just before 0700 GMT and is to hold talks at the Elysee Palace with President Emmanuel Macron at 1500 GMT.
Trump will attend the Notre-Dame opening ceremony this evening, joined by dozens of other leaders – a unique chance for them to rub shoulders with the president-elect before he takes office in January.
No agenda for talks between Macron and Trump has been announced, but European leaders are concerned that Trump could withdraw US military aid to Ukraine at a crucial phase in the war with Russia.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who is due to meet Macron later this afternoon, may also meet Trump, a Ukrainian official said on Friday.
Such a meeting would be of great importance given the fears in Kyiv that Trump, who once boasted he could end Russia's war on Ukraine in 24 hours, may urge concessions to Moscow.
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Macron invited both Trump and outgoing President Joe Biden. Trump accepted the invite, while the current administration will be represented by First Lady Jill Biden.
Trump posted on his Truth Social page 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!"
Macron welcomed Trump in 2017, after his first election, with the glamour of dinner at the Eiffel Tower and the pomp of watching a Bastille Day military parade down the Champs-Elysees – which Trump later said he wanted to emulate in Washington.
But Trump's relationship with Macron gradually soured.
In 2019, Trump said the French leader was "very, very nasty" and lashed out at his economic record after Macron criticised the US level of commitment to the NATO alliance.
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However, when Trump won again a month ago, Macron was one of the first world leaders to phone and congratulate him.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has decided not to make the trip, after her presence was initially announced by Brussels.
She is in the throes of a major spat with Macron after going to Montevideo on Friday to announce the conclusion of the Mercosur free trade agreement between the EU and four South American countries, which is opposed by France and some other European countries.
(with newswires)
