-Analysis-
PARIS — It was supposed to be a grand ceremony with royals and heads of state – it has become the most sought-after diplomatic event of the year. The reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on Saturday has taken on a new dimension with the announcement of Donald Trump’s attendance, which has electrified diplomatic circles.
Trump is obviously not yet the president of the United States; he will have to wait until Jan. 20 for that. It will, in fact, be First Lady Jill Biden, who will represent her husband, who has just returned from Africa and no longer has any reason to endure another trip.
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And above all, in fact, Trump is already more than just the president-elect, far more so than during previous presidential transitions. That is what makes his trip to Paris — the first abroad since his election a month ago — truly exceptional. His return to the White House is feared by many, hoped for by others. But everyone knows the world will be different after Jan. 20.
Ambivalence and anxiety
Since his election, he has had many phone calls and received a few rare foreign visitors. But in Paris, on the sidelines of the formal Notre-Dame ceremony, Trump will certainly have brief meetings with some of the around 50 heads of state and rulers present.
That starts with his host, French President Emmanuel Macron. Although the political crisis has weakened France’s voice, the diplomatic and social “coup” at Notre-Dame shows that French soft power still has strong influence.
Trump will feel how ambivalent the world is toward him, especially U.S. allies. They fear this unpredictable billionaire, surrounded by a perplexing inner circle; yet at the same time, all consider the United States as the indispensable power for their security and will make the necessary concessions to ensure that nothing changes.
In an anxiety-inducing world, it’s a lifeline.
The real event
Among the guests, one name is whispered without confirmation: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. That would be the real event.
We know Trump’s position on support for Ukraine. The Republicans once blocked military aid to Kyiv, and the president-elect wants to address the issue in his own way — although it is still unclear how. Moreover, there is a strong pro-Putin lobby within his entourage.
Everyone knows that changing Trump’s mind would take a miracle.
Yet there is also a significant effort to convince Trump of the need not to abandon Ukraine. This week, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s headquarters in Florida, along with an envoy from Kyiv. Both emphasize that the credibility of American leadership is at stake in Ukraine, and that a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin would weaken Trump’s position against China, his bête noire.
Solutions for compromise formulas are being considered, and Zelensky himself floated an idea a few days ago. He has already spoken to Trump on the phone, but if he can spend a few minutes with him during the Paris ceremony, he may hope to go further. Macron and other European leaders will move in the same direction.
Everyone knows that changing Trump’s mind would take a miracle. But who knows, perhaps the rebirth of a European cathedral will make it happen … We could call it the spirit of Notre-Dame!
