Rudolph Angler A Symbolic Reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral
France’s President Emmanuel Macron orchestrated a grand return to the global stage during Notre Dame Cathedral’s reopening. The event served as a platform for a high-stakes meeting between Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President-elect Donald Trump. This setting, steeped in historical and spiritual significance, showcased Macron’s strategic edge, overshadowing other European leaders.
The ceremony concluded a tumultuous week for Macron. The collapse of his government left France politically adrift, compounding calls for his resignation. Two days prior, Macron vowed to complete his remaining 30-month term, standing firm despite widespread criticism.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur countries. Macron strongly opposed the deal, and its timing underscored France’s waning influence within the EU. Even stormy weather seemed to conspire against the president, forcing the pre-recording of an outdoor concert planned for the cathedral esplanade.
High-Stakes Diplomacy with Trump and Zelenskyy
Macron countered these challenges by hosting a pivotal trilateral meeting with Trump and Zelenskyy at the Elysée Palace. Photos of Macron and Trump embracing on the palace steps, alongside a full guard of honor for Trump, underlined the event’s diplomatic weight. This marked Trump’s first international trip since his election victory and gave Macron the upper hand in navigating relations with a second Trump presidency.
For Zelenskyy, the meeting alleviated concerns over Trump’s claim to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, potentially at a cost to Ukraine’s sovereignty. Afterward, Zelenskyy described the talks as “good and productive,” thanking Trump for his “unwavering resolve.” Trump echoed the significance of their dialogue, stating, “The world seems a little crazy right now, and we’ll be talking about that.”
The reopening ceremony attracted some 50 global leaders, including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, though many nations sent ceremonial rather than political representatives. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was absent, with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier representing Germany instead. Von der Leyen missed the event, traveling back from Mercosur talks, though European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was in attendance.
Macron and Trump occupied the diplomatic spotlight during the ceremony, sitting in the cathedral’s front row. Their discussions occurred amid Syria’s Assad regime’s disintegration, further highlighting the pressing global stakes.
By blending Notre Dame’s storied tradition of intertwining political and religious symbolism, Macron recast the cathedral as a “metaphor for the life of the nation.” Despite unresolved challenges in forming a government and tackling France’s economic difficulties, Macron’s performance at Notre Dame projected an enduring image of leadership.