The French authorities solved the problem of seating at the reopening of the cathedral of Notre Dame on Saturday by placing First Lady Brigitte Macron between the US President-elect Mr. Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s wife and daughter in front of the ceremony.
The presence of Trump and the outgoing president’s family brought protocol planners to a head shortly after one of the most bitter election contests in US history.
Mr. Trump mocked Biden as “Joe Asleep” throughout, while Mr. Biden called Mr. Trump a “threat to democracy” and let it be known that he considered him a “fascist” ahead of the November 5 vote.
The future president of the 47th was treated as a guest of honor on Saturday in Paris, he was handed over to French President Emmanuel Macron right in front of the assembly.
Jill Biden, representing the outgoing president, along with the couple’s daughter Ashley, also sat in the front but Brigitte separated them from Trump.
The president of the country, Mr. Biden, 82, decided not to go to Paris and showed a lot of fatigue during his first visit with the American president to Angola in southern Africa on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Before the party began, the first lady of America and Mr. Trump found themselves sitting alone for a short time and were seen exchanging pleasantries.
Trump made his signature raised fist gesture — immortalized when he survived an assassination attempt in July — as he entered the church.
Dressed in a casual yellow tie, he stopped briefly to speak with Prince William, the heir to the British throne, before taking his seat.
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