Trump To Visit Paris For Notre Dame Re-Opening

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will travel to Paris this coming weekend to attend the re-opening of France’s legendary Notre Dame Cathedral, which was badly damaged in a 2019 fire.

The roughly 860-year-old cathedral, which underwent a restoration process that reportedly cost more than $700 million, is expected to reopen to the public with a big ceremony on Saturday, December 7.

“It is an honor to announce that I will be traveling to Paris, France, on Saturday to attend the re-opening of the Magnificent and Historic Notre Dame Cathedral, which has been fully restored after a devastating fire five years ago,” Trump said in a post to Truth Social.

He added: “President Emmanuel Macron has 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!”

French authorities have said they suspected the fire started due to a lit cigarette or a faulty electrical connection, but The New York Times noted last month that an investigation continues and the cause “may never be determined.”

Sources told CNN that Trump’s team had been in talks “for days” with French President Emmanuel Macron’s office about the visit, which is expected to be Trump’s first overseas trip since the 2024 election, according to reporter Alayna Treene.

Since winning a second term in the White House a couple of weeks ago, the president-elect has issued statements about imposing tariffs on a variety of foreign countries if they did not comply with his demands.

Last week, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico as well as China that will remain in place until they stem the flow of drugs and illegal immigration coming into the United States.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau then met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, over the weekend after which the president-elect said their discussion was “very productive.”

And on Saturday, Trump warned BRICS countries — which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and others — that they would face a 100% tariff if they abandoned the U.S. dollar.

“They can go find another ‘sucker!'” Trump said on Truth Social. “There is no chance that the BRICS will replace the U.S. Dollar in International Trade, and any Country that tries should wave goodbye to America.”