It seems Donald Trump has once again proven that all eyes naturally gravitate toward him, even as President Joe Biden fades into the background during his final weeks in the White House. This weekend, Trump stole the global spotlight during his trip to Paris for the reopening of the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral—a momentous event that managed to highlight both Trump’s larger-than-life presence and Biden’s glaring absence.
While Trump was busy meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Élysée Palace, Biden couldn’t be bothered to make the trip. The excuse? A “scheduling conflict,” according to the White House. In other words, Biden’s calendar—likely packed with photo ops and nap times—took precedence over one of the most significant cultural and diplomatic events of the year. Even First Lady Jill Biden, who did attend, was relegated to the sidelines, avoiding the substantive meetings that her husband skipped entirely.
Trump’s return to the world stage wasn’t just about ceremonial handshakes and photo ops, though there were plenty of those. It was about stepping into the global leadership vacuum that Biden’s absenteeism created. At the trilateral meeting with Macron and Zelensky, Trump reaffirmed his reputation as a dealmaker and a statesman. “It certainly seems like the world is going a little bit crazy right now, and we’ll be talking about that,” Trump remarked. That “craziness,” of course, includes everything from the ongoing war in Ukraine to escalating global tensions that Biden has largely tiptoed around for the better part of his presidency.
Even Macron and Zelensky seemed to recognize Trump’s gravitational pull. Macron’s social media post featuring the three leaders spoke volumes about the symbolic weight of Trump’s presence, while Zelensky called the meeting “good and productive.” The Ukrainian president even praised Trump’s resolute stance, a nod to the former president’s trademark foreign policy philosophy: peace through strength. Imagine that—a phrase Biden would likely struggle to define, let alone implement.
“We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way. We spoke about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace,” Zelensky posted. “We agreed to continue working together and keep in contact. Peace through strength is possible.”
The contrast between Trump and Biden couldn’t be starker. While Trump was shaking hands with world leaders and discussing tangible solutions for global security, Biden was a no-show, leaving his administration to churn out boilerplate excuses about his packed schedule. It’s hard not to see Biden’s absence as a metaphor for his presidency: detached, uninspired, and increasingly irrelevant on the world stage.
I had a good and productive trilateral meeting with President @realDonaldTrump and President @EmmanuelMacron at the Élysée Palace.
President Trump is, as always, resolute. I thank him. I also extend my gratitude to Emmanuel for organizing this important meeting.
We all want… pic.twitter.com/eKMtuhp2ZI
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 7, 2024
Let’s be honest—the Notre Dame reopening was more than just a celebration of a restored cultural treasure; it was a symbol of restoration for Trump’s global image as a leader who commands attention and respect. The media may have spent years trying to paint him as an international pariah, but scenes from Paris told a different story: Trump shaking hands, making deals, and stepping confidently back into the role of a global power broker.
United States, Ukraine, and France. Together on this historic day. Gathered for Notre-Dame. Let us continue our joint efforts for peace and security. pic.twitter.com/hEYGEklihT
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 7, 2024
Meanwhile, Biden’s “scheduling conflict” feels like the perfect euphemism for an administration running out the clock. With Trump preparing to take the reins once again, it’s clear who the world sees as America’s real leader—and it’s not the guy still clinging to the Resolute Desk for a few more weeks.
