Topline
President-elect Donald Trump, billionaire Bernard Arnault and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gathered in Paris on Saturday for the reopening ceremony for the Notre Dame cathedral, which closed for years after it was damaged during a fire in 2019.
The cathedral was damaged after a fire in 2019.
Key Facts
Trump—appearing on his first trip overseas since being re-elected—met with Emmanuel Macron before the ceremony, with Trump saying of his relationship with the French president: “We had a great relationship, as everyone knows,” CNN reported.
Trump and Macron appeared briefly with Zelensky, who said he had a “good and productive” meeting with the two leaders, noting Trump was “as always, resolute.”
Ahead of the ceremony, the president-elect was also scheduled to meet with Prince William, who will also meet with First Lady Jill Biden, according to the BBC.
The Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, started the reopening ceremony at around 1 p.m. EST by knocking on the cathedral’s wooden doors three times, preceding a speech by Macron and a service shortly after.
The South Rose window inside Notre Dame Cathedral.
Trump appears with Macron at the Elysee Palace.
Zelensky appears with Macron and Trump in the Elysee Palace.
The Notre Dame cathedral is seen in Pars.
Firefighters stand inside Notre Dame before it formally reopens its doors for the first time.
The interior of Notre Dame.
Salma Hayek with her billionaire husband Francois Pinault.
Bernard Arnault and other Arnault family members.
Queen Mathilde and King Philippe of Belgium, appear with the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Maria … [+]
Trump shakes hands with Prince William inside the cathedral.
Notre Dame’s ceiling.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
Who Is Attending Notre Dame’s Reopening Ceremony?
French officials estimate more than 1,500 people will be in attendance for the ceremony on Saturday. Trump, Macron, Jill Biden and the Prince of Wales are among the ceremony’s VIP guests, local outlets reported. Other world leaders attending the event include former Secretary of State John Kerry, Italian President Giorgia Meloni, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Prince Albert II, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Italian President Sergio Mattarella, among others. Arnault, LVMH’s chief executive and the world’s fifth-richest person with a fortune valued at $170.3 billion, was also spotted alongside family members. Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person and a Trump ally, was also reportedly in attendance.
Big Number
$1 billion. That’s how much was donated to help French officials restore Notre Dame, according to the Associated Press, with the help of France’s richest families. Arnault donated about $200 million, while Francois Pinault, who attended the ceremony with his wife Selma Hayek, pledged $113 million. The Bettencourt family, which controls L’Oreal, matched Arnault’s donation. The total cost of the restoration was about $738.5 million.
Key Background
On April 15, 2019, the Notre Dame cathedral became engulfed in flames, though the cause of the blaze is still unknown. About 600 firefighters fought the fire for 15 hours, and most of the 850-year-old structure was saved, including its two bell towers. Macron called for the church to be restored within five years, resulting in an outpouring of donations. Shortly after the fire, Trump said it was “so horrible” to watch the fire at Notre Dame and called for “flying water tankers” to help put it out.
