In a significant turn of events, President-elect Donald Trump is currently in Europe for his first international visit since his resounding triumph in the recent presidential election.
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, extended an invitation to Trump to attend the grand reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral this Saturday. This event marks the restoration of the historic Parisian landmark, five years after a catastrophic fire caused severe damage.
As reported by Fox News, the First Lady, Jill Biden, will also be present at the ceremonies. However, it is Trump who is expected to engage in discussions with world leaders. Trump's presence at this event signifies his unofficial re-entry onto the global stage, reinforcing his rapidly growing influence worldwide.
Brett Bruen, a seasoned public affairs and strategic communications expert, who has served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, commented on the significance of this event. "This is without question a major moment in French history and the fact that Macron wanted to share it with Trump speaks to the significance of what Trump is achieving even before he gets to the Oval Office again," Bruen said. He further added, "He is being feted quite literally in Paris with all the glitz and glamour."
Analysts, including Bruen, commend Macron's strategic decision to invite Trump to the weekend's celebrations. "This is a really smart move by Macron to get things rolling in the right direction when it comes to U.S.-French relations under Trump," Bruen stated. He also highlighted Macron's current weakened position in France and Europe, suggesting that Macron might see Trump as an opportunity to regain his standing as the European leader who can effectively engage with the new American president.
Since his election victory in November, Trump has received numerous congratulatory calls from international leaders. His visit to Paris follows an unexpected visit by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Mar-a-Lago, after Trump threatened a trade war with Canada and Mexico. Trump criticized Canada for failing to prevent significant amounts of drugs and undocumented individuals from crossing the northern border into the U.S., and also highlighted America's substantial trade deficit with Canada. Fox News' Bret Baier reported that Trump even suggested that Canada could become the 51st state.
Trump has also recently commented on several international conflicts. In the Middle East, he warned via a social media post that there would be "ALL HELL TO PAY" if Hamas does not release all hostages held in Gaza before his inauguration on January 20th.
News of Trump's invitation to Paris emerged earlier this week as President Biden was making a historic visit to Angola, becoming the first American president to visit the sub-Saharan African nation. However, Biden's trip is being overshadowed by Trump's increasing prominence on the world stage.
Wayne Lesperance, a veteran political scientist and president of New England College, told Fox News, "While President-elect [Trump] is still weeks away from taking the oath of office, loyalties and the attention of world leaders has shifted to the incoming President and from Washington to Mar-a-Lago with breathtaking speed."
Matt Mowers, a veteran GOP national public affairs strategist and former diplomat at the State Department during Trump's first administration, argued that "Bidens essentially been a lame duck" for months and that "world leaders have been shifting their gaze to the next administration."
While the Biden administration may dispute such sentiments, it is undeniable that world leaders have already begun to engage directly with the incoming president and administration. Mowers argued that the shift in focus from Biden to Trump is more pronounced this time due to the stark contrast in their approaches to foreign policy. He emphasized that Trump is already aiming "to shape world events" by "being bold, not timid, in the statements hes putting out, and the world is already reacting to that kind of American strength."
Matthew Bartlett, a Republican strategist who served at the State Department during Trump's first term, told Fox News that "the world is demanding leadership" and that "the Oval Office has been replaced by Mar-a-Lago."
Lesperance, referring to Biden's recent trip to Africa, noted that the final weeks of lame duck presidents are typically filled with celebratory moments and attempts to solidify their legacy. However, he argued that Biden's statements on Ukraine, Gaza, and climate change have largely been ignored by world leaders, who are instead focusing on Trump's choices for his foreign policy team and changes in U.S. foreign policy position. It appears that while Biden attempts a victory tour, the world has already turned the page.
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