Emmanuel Macron welcomed the President-elect of the United States on the occasion of the reopening of Notre-Dame. The latter praised “his excellent relations” with the French president.
The President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, greeted his “excellent relations” with the French head of state Emmanuel Macron, during his first visit abroad since his election. Upon his arrival, Donald Trump exchanged a warm hug and several handshakes with Emmanuel Macron, on the steps of the presidential palace in front of the Republican Guard in full pomp.
They then made some statements to the press inside the presidential palace. “It is a great honor for the French people to receive you. Welcome back”launched Emmanuel Macron to Donald Trump. “It’s an honor to be here”replied Donald Trump, emphasizing his “excellent relations” with the French president. “We have had great success working together”he said. “The world seems to be going a little crazy at the moment”he added, in the presence of the cameras.
Trilateral interview
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Following their bilateral meeting, on the sidelines of the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral scheduled for the evening, the French president must continue with a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. This was originally scheduled for 4 p.m., but Donald Trump arrived nearly 45 minutes late for his meeting initially scheduled for 3 p.m. A trilateral meeting between the three leaders is «probable»we underlined from a French source. If such a meeting takes place, it promises to be of crucial importance for Volodymyr Zelensky, who has only had a brief telephone discussion with Donald Trump since the latter's election in early November.
The future American president has repeatedly affirmed that he intends to strongly distance himself from the policy of massive support for kyiv led by Joe Biden in the war caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Very critical of the billions of dollars in aid released by the United States to militarily support Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion, Mr. Trump promised to resolve the war in Ukraine “in 24 hours”without specifying how.
Conflict in the Middle East
MM. Macron and Trump should also discuss the Middle East together, where events are jostling, between the fragile ceasefire in place in Lebanon since November 27, the continuation of the Israeli offensive in Gaza and the rebel offensive in Syria. A few moments before his arrival at the French presidential palace, Donald Trump declared on his Truth Social platform and on X (formerly Twitter) that the United States should not “to mingle” of the situation in Syria, when rebel groups began to surround the capital Damascus.
“Syria is a mess, but it is not our friend, and the United States should have nothing to do with it. This is not our fight. Let (the situation) develop. Let’s not get involved!”wrote the future American president, who came to Paris accompanied by Steve Witkoff, his special envoy for the Middle East, and his Middle East advisor Massad Boulos, according to the French authorities. In addition to Trump and Zelensky, around forty heads of state and government were invited to attend on Saturday the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, restored in five years after its fire on April 15, 2019.
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