Donald Trump made his return to the global stage this weekend with a visit to France, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron. The two leaders held discussions at the Élysée Palace before attending a ceremony marking the reopening of the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, five years after it was severely damaged by fire.
This visit, which comes ahead of Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, marks his first trip abroad since winning the U.S. presidential election a month ago. The visit offers Macron an opportunity to play the role of intermediary between Europe and the incoming U.S. president, a role the French leader has taken on in the past.
The two leaders exchanged warm greetings upon Trump’s arrival at the Élysée Palace. In their brief conversation, Trump commended their past collaboration during his first term, referring to it as a “truly great success.”
“The world certainly seems a bit crazy right now, and we’ll talk about that,” Trump said, hinting at the challenges ahead.
Though the specific agenda for their talks has not been disclosed, European leaders are concerned that Trump may halt U.S. military aid to Ukraine at a critical juncture in its fight against Russian aggression. President Macron, a staunch supporter of NATO and Ukraine’s war efforts, has expressed concerns that Trump’s policies may differ, as the former president has often emphasized that European nations should pay more for their collective defense and that the war in Ukraine should end through negotiated solutions.
This visit comes as Trump prepares to confront numerous international crises upon taking office next month, with his stance on foreign policy expected to be a key area of focus in the coming months.
