Donald Trump Praises Prince William for ‘Fantastic Job’ During Their Second Meeting in Paris | World News

Donald Trump expressed his admiration for the Prince of Wales, noting that he is “doing a fantastic job” during their second meeting in Paris on Saturday.

Their 40-minute discussion at the British ambassador’s residence was described as “warm” and “friendly,” following a handshake at a ceremony marking the five-year restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral.

According to Kensington Palace, their discussions covered various global topics, with a focus on the significance of the UK-US special relationship.

The palace further mentioned that Mr. Trump shared cherished memories with Prince William about his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to which the 42-year-old royal was “extremely grateful”.

Upon Mr. Trump’s arrival, they exchanged handshakes, and the US president-elect, poised to take office on January 20, remarked: “Good man, this one,” gesturing towards William.

The prince inquired if Mr. Trump had warmed up since attending the cathedral ceremony, to which he replied that it was “beautiful”.

William quipped, “We can warm our toes up after the cathedral,” to which Mr. Trump smiled and agreed, “right, you’re right”.

At the preceding event in Paris, they briefly interacted after shaking hands, with Mr. Trump giving William a friendly pat on the shoulder.

This was their first encounter since Mr. Trump was re-elected president last month, the previous meeting taking place during his state visit to the UK in 2019.

At the Notre-Dame event attended by various heads of state, Mr. Trump was seated alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.

The ceremony was attended by approximately 1,500 dignitaries, including billionaire Elon Musk, a close advisor in Mr. Trump’s transition team, US first lady Jill Biden, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Other notable attendees included Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Prince Albert of Monaco, as well as former French presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.

This event in the French capital celebrated the reopening of the iconic church after nearly collapsing in a fire in April 2019.

Following this catastrophic blaze, nearly $1bn (£780m) was donated, highlighting its immense global significance.

‘The bells are ringing again’

Mr. Macron expressed his “gratitude” to everyone involved in saving, assisting, and reconstructing the cathedral, projecting the word “merci” onto its façade.

“I stand before you… to express the gratitude of the French nation,” he stated during the ceremony.

“This evening, the bells of Notre-Dame are ringing again.”

The first responders who safeguarded the Gothic treasure, along with many who contributed to its restoration, received a standing ovation.

Trump and Zelenskyy meet

Earlier on Saturday, Mr. Macron arranged a meeting with Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelenskyy at the Elysee Palace, seen as a significant move for the French president following the ousting of prime minister Michel Barnier.

The archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, presided over the service marking the first part of the cathedral’s revival, with an inaugural mass scheduled for Sunday.

He knocked thrice on the doors with his crozier, symbolically reopening the building, after which the choir began to sing.

Just moments prior, the cathedral’s bells rang out as Mr. Macron greeted his guests.

Inside, 42,000 square meters worth of stonework, an area roughly equivalent to six football fields, was painstakingly cleaned, unveiling luminous limestone and detailed carvings.

Overhead, 2,000 oak beams, known as “the forest”, were utilized to reconstruct the spire and roof, successfully restoring the cathedral’s iconic silhouette.

Furthermore, the grand organ, featuring 7,952 pipes, resonated for the first time since the fire.